Influence of glycosaminoglycans on endogenous DNA synthesis in isolated normal and cancer cell nuclei. Differential effect of heparin.

The influence of exogenously-added glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins on DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei, from normal and malignant tissues, was investigated. Heparin stimulated DNA synthesis in normal cell nuclei at concentrations (heparin/DNA (w/w) less than 0.9) which inhibited DNA synthesis in tumor cell nuclei. At higher concentrations (heparin/DNA (w/w greater than 0.9) heparin inhibited DNA synthesis in both normal and tumor cell nuclei. The chondroitin-4 and 6-sulfates, heparin sulfate, cartilage proteoglycan, N-desulfated heparin, and glycophorin caused inhibition of DNA synthesis at all concentrations tested and in all nuclei examined. Hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and fetuin had no significant influence on DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei.