Subfractionation of chick embryo epiphyseal cartilage Golgi. Localization of enzymes involved in the synthesis of the polysaccharide portion of proteochondroitin sulfate.

Membranes from chick embryo epiphyseal cartilage were fractionated by equilibrium sucrose density gradient centrifugation and assayed for galactosyl xylose transferase, chondroitin polymerization and sulfation as well as the marker enzymes glucose-6-phosphatase, NADH cytochrome c reductase, galactosyl ovalbumin transferase, and sialyltransferase. The order of distribution of chondroitin sulfate synthesis from dense to light membranes correlated with the established sequence of events for its synthesis. The linkage region enzyme, viz. galactosyl xylose transferase, distributed with NADH cytochrome c reductase in an earlier and heavier cis compartment. Chondroitin polymerization and sulfation had a dual distribution similar to the galactosyl ovalbumin transferase and sialyltransferase in separate later and lighter medial and trans compartments, or in an extended medial or trans compartment. The galactosyl xylose transferase had a distribution distinctly different from that of the galactosyl ovalbumin transferase indicating that these distinct enzymes showed no cross-reactivity with their respective acceptor substrates. The dual distribution of chondroitin sulfate synthesis was consistent with our previous demonstration of the two nascent proteochondroitin populations produced by microsomal preparations from the same source. The results indicated separate subcellular locations for synthesis of the two forms.