Figure 1.

Assessment of SLRP fragmentation. Presented is an assessment of small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) fragmentation in human meniscus (Men), knee and hip articular cartilage extracts by Western blotting. (a) The age and sex distribution of the total knee and hip replacement tissue donors used in this study. (b) Pooled tissue extracts were examined by Western blotting. Pooled 4 M GuHCl tissue extracts were fractionated by centrifugal diafiltration and the 5 to 100 kDa fraction used. All samples were pre-digested with chondroitinase ABC and keratanase-I before electrophoresis. Sample loadings were normalized by loading extracts corresponding to equivalent wet weights of tissue in each lane for comparison.