Molecular Biophysics of the Extracellular Matrix

1 Structure and Associations of Proteoglycans in Cartilage.- Structure.- Preparation.- Link-Free Aggregates.- Link-Stable Aggregates.- The Secretion and Assembly of Proteoglycan Aggregates.- Diversity of Proteoglycan Structure.- 2 The Dilute Solution Properties of Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans.- The Relevance of the Term "Dilute Solution".- Hyaluronate.- The Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans.- Proteoglycans.- Conclusions.- 3 X-Ray Diffraction Analyses of Glycosaminoglycans.- The Relevance of Fiber Diffraction Studies.- Accuracy and Precision in Fiber Diffraction Analyses.- Polymorphism of Glycosaminoglycan Helices.- Detailed Structural Studies of Hyaluronate Allomorphs.- Detailed Structural Studies of Chondroitin Sulfate Allomorphs.- Detailed Structural Studies of Dermatan Sulfate Allomorphs.- The Roles of Cations in Conformation and Packing.- Proteoglycans and Heterotypic Interactions.- Conclusions.- 4 Conformation of Individual Residues and Chain Segments of Glycosaminoglycans in Solution by Spectroscopic Methods.- Conformation of Individual Residues.- Conformation of Chain Segments.- 5 Self-Association of Copolymeric Glycosaminoglycans (Proteoglycans).- Dermatan Sulfate.- Affinity Chromatography.- Gel Chromatography.- Light Scattering.- Chemistry.- Heparan Sulfate.- Gel Chromatography.- Light Scattering.- Chemistry.- Proteodermatan Sulfate.- Extraction and Purification.- Characterization.- Characterization of the Proteoglycan Subfractions.- Self-Association of Scleral Proteoglycans.- 6 Transport of Molecules in Connective Tissue Polysaccharide Solutions.- The State of Polysaccharides in Connective Tissue.- Modes of Transport.- Diffusion in a Binary System.- Diffusional Transport Within a Homogeneous Polymer Matrix.- Transport Across a Matrix (or Membrane).- Transport in an Inhomogeneous Matrix.- Interpretation of Translational Transport Data.- Diffusion of Low Molecular Weight Solutes in Polymer Matrices-Concept of Microviscosity.- Mutual Diffusion of Macromolecular Solutes in a Binary System.- Diffusion of Macromolecular Solutes in Matrices.- Summarizing View.- Rotational Diffusion.- Transport of Electrolytes.- Simple Electrolytes.- Polyelectrolytes.- Formation and Transport of Matrix Structures.- Observation of Very Rapid Polymer Transport in Concentrated Ternary Systems.- Visualization of the Anomalous Transport.- A Tentative Explanation of the Phenomenon.- Biological Implications.- 7 Glycosaminoglycan Chains in the Biological State.- Introduction-Molecular Species.- Molecular Shapes.- Molecular Assemblies.- References.