Studies on bone matrix glycoproteins. Incorporation of (1-14C)glucosamine and plasma (14C)glycoprotein into rabbit cortical bone.

The radioactively labelled constituents present in bone matrix were compared 12 days after injection of either [(14)C]glucosamine or plasma [(14)C]glycoprotein. Both precursors are utilized in the synthesis of organic matrix by bone tissue. Cortical bone from animals injected with [(14)C]glucosamine contains radioactivity derived from glucosamine and plasma glycoproteins and all glycoprotein fractions are labelled. Plasma [(14)C]glycoprotein labels the less acidic glycoproteins to a greater extent than the more acidic components. An antibody has been raised against the less-acidic-glycoprotein fraction of bone. The latter contains a glycoprotein of alpha-mobility that appears to be concentrated specifically in bone tissue and which is present also in plasma. This alpha-glycoprotein accounts for a large proportion of the components labelled and retained in bone matrix after [(14)C]glucosamine injection.