Analysis of Proteoglycan Synthesis and Secretion in Cell Culture Systems.

Experimental protocols for the synthesis and secretion of proteoglycans in cell culture models are important to study specific biosynthetic steps or disorders in which a defect in proteoglycans is expected. We describe a method using 35S-sulfate to metabolically label newly synthesized proteoglycans from cell cultures in order to measure proteoglycan synthesis and secretion. The method is set up for fibroblast and chondrocyte cultures, but can be extended to other cell types.