Biosynthesis of glycoproteins by rabbit dental pulp fibroblasts in culture.

Confluent dental pulp fibroblast cultures incorporated L-[3H]-fucose in a linear manner with time into non-diffusible macromolecules over 24 h. Ascorbate supplementation did not appear to alter the amount or type of macromolecules. Equilibrium CsCl-density-gradient centrifugation established that the [3H]-fucose-labelled macromolecules released into the medium were predominantly glycoproteins. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis showed that the major fucosylated glycoprotein had an apparent molecular weight of 230,000, but several other species were also seen. The major fucosylated glycoprotein was fibronectin by its affinity for gelatin and its immunoprecipitation with a specific anti-(cold-insoluble globulin).