The major human urinary trypsin inhibitor is a proteoglycan

Abstract

The major urinary trypsin inhibitor (M_r 44000), isolated from human urine, contains 35% carbohydrate. In addition to N-acetylglucosamine and neutral sugars (primarily mannose and galactose), the carbohydrate moiety contains hexuronic acid and N-acetylgalactosamine and corresponds to a glycosaminoglycan. This carbohydrate chain is an integral component of the inhibitor: it does not dissociate from the inhibitor when using dissociative conditions such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, guanidinium chloride, or by increasing ionic strength or mixing with cetylpyridinium chloride. This glycosaminoglycan chain is sensitive to chondroitinase ABC or testicular hyaluronidase digestion and corresponds to slightly sulfated chondroitin 4-sulfate or 6-sulfate. After treatment by these enzymes, the urinary inhibitor has a lower molecular mass (M_r 26000) but still inhibits trypsin.