Comprehensive analysis of chondroitin sulfate and aggrecan in the head cartilage of bony fishes: Identification of proteoglycans in the head cartilage of sturgeon

Cartilage in the head of sturgeon or salmon has been gaining attention as a rich source of functional chondroitin sulfate (CS) or proteoglycans. Although the cartilage was found in the heads of other bony fishes, the structure of CS and its core protein, especially aggrecan, was not fully investigated. In this study, comprehensive analysis of CS and aggrecan in the head cartilage of 10 bony fishes including sturgeon and salmon was performed. The 4-Osulfation to 6-O-sulfation ratio (4S/6S ratio; S: sulfate residue) of CS in Perciformes was >= 1.0, while the 4S/6S ratios of CS from sturgeons and salmon were less than 0.5. Dot blotting and proteomic analysis revealed that aggrecan was a major core protein in head cartilage of all bony fishes. These results suggest that the head cartilage of bony fishes is a promising source for the preparation of CS or proteoglycans as a health food ingredient.

Automated summary

This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of cartilage in the heads of 10 bony fishes, including sturgeon and salmon. The results revealed that the structure of chondroitin sulfate (CS) in sturgeons and salmon differed from other bony fishes, and aggrecan was identified as the major core protein in all bony fish head cartilage.