title: Hierarchical organization of cartilage proteoglycans.
abstract: The hierarchical organization of cartilage proteoglycans is investigated on different length and time scales using osmotic pressure measurements, small angle neutron scattering (SANS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), static and dynamic light scattering and neutron spin echo techniques. Osmotic pressure measurements reveal association of aggrecan bottlebrushes into microgel-like assemblies. SAXS, SANS and light scattering results indicate weak interpenetration between neighboring aggrecan molecules. As opposed to DNA and many synthetic polyelectrolytes, which display great sensitivity to ion valence, aggrecan exhibits exceptional insensitivity to calcium ions in the physiological ion concentration range and beyond. This property allows aggrecan to play a role of ion reservoir that can mediate calcium metabolism in cartilage and bone.
authors.affiliation: Section on Tissue Biophysics and Biomimetics, Program in Pediatric Imaging and Tissue Science, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 13 South Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Horkay
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Basser
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hecht
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Geissler
keywords: aggrecan; osmotic pressure; self-assembly; small angle scattering
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