Abstract
Summary
Epiphyseal cartilage from rachitic rats was found to contain approximately 0.1 μg of lysozyme/mg of wet tissue. This lysozyme is not associated with the membrane-bounded, enzymatically active matrix vesicles which appear to be the locus for initial apatite crystal formation in calcifying cartilage. Lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase activity were found in different fractions of a preparation of digested cartilage subjected to differential centrifugation. Lysozyme, but not alkaline phosphatase, could be extracted from cartilage in appreciable amounts with 1 M NaCl. The possible role of lysozyme in calcification may relate to interaction with proteoglycans.
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