A small RNA is associated with dermatan sulfate proteoglycan.

A specific RNA, called pgRNA, was bound to purified dermatan sulfate proteoglycan from porcine skin. The pgRNA was approximately 20 bases in length and contained greater than 80% guanosine. The pgRNA-proteoglycan complex was dissociated into pgRNA and apo-proteoglycan by denaturing conditions. The complex was reconstituted from apo-proteoglycan and pgRNA, but not by other RNA molecules. Both pgRNA and an additional smaller RNA, perhaps derived from pgRNA, were isolated complexed to the glycosaminoglycan dermatan sulfate derived from dermatan sulfate proteoglycan. Both the chromatographic and physical properties of the dermatan sulfate were influenced by the pgRNA binding.