Synthesis of complex saccharides by synchronized NIL-8 hamster cells

Abstract

Complex saccharide synthesis by synchronized NIL-8 cells was studied by metabolic labeling with [ 3H]glucosamine. Hyaluronic acid, a chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate are produced during G 1, S and G 2/M but the latter is absent or altered in media during G 2/M. Glucosamine is the sole amino sugar in cetylpyridinium bromide precipitable glycopeptides except for G 1 cell associated material; CPB-soluble glycopeptides contained label in both glucosamine and galactosamine in contrast to products of NIL-8 cells transformed by hamster sarcoma virus (HSV) in which galactosamine was absent from the glycopeptide fractions. The transformed cells synthesized hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate in amounts comparable to those found in the NIL-8 line.