Biosynthesis of sulphated mucopolysaccharides in relation to vitamins A and K.

(I) Incorporation of NaiadS04 into acid mucopolysaccharides of intestine and
colon tissue has been studied in normal, vitamin A-deficient and excess vitamin A-fed
rats.
(2) Vitamin A deficiency resulted in a significant decrease in [3~S]sulfate incorporation
into mucopolysaccharides isolated from intestines of male rats. There was
no significant change in the total mucopolysaccharides per gram of fresh tissue.
(3) When rats are fed excessive amounts of retinyl acetate, increased [asSjsulfate
incorporation into mucopolysaccharides of rat intestine and colon is observed.
(4) Supplementation of vitamin K 1 to rats fed excessive amounts of vitamin A
restores the incorporation of IsiS]sulfate into the acid mucopolysaccharides to the
normal level.
(5) The implications of these findings with special reference to the role of vitamins
A and K in the synthesis of sulfated mucopolysaccharides are discussed.