The effects of alpha amylase on collagen-proteoglycans and collagen-glycoprotein complexes in connective tissue matrices.

Abstract

Different connective tissues were digested with Bacillus subtilis α-amylase in an effort to determine the effects of this enzyme on the glycoprotein-collagen complexes. It was found that in some tissues insoluble collagen could not be attacked by Clostridium histolyticum collagenase unless a glycoprotein fraction, strongly associated with the fibers, was removed. This removal was achieved by α-amylase, thus supporting earlier observations that sugar-containing compounds are strongly bound to collagen. Using alpha amylase an unexpected and interesting result demonstrated that this enzyme(s) releases acid glycosaminoglycans from the various connective tissues. Chemical studies have shown that the α-amylase preparation was not contaminated to any significant extent by hyaluronidase or by a protease.