Studies on the mode of action of excess of vitamin A. 6. Lysosomal protease and the degradation of cartilage matrix

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Abstract
Cartilaginous rudiments grown in the presence of 3.3 [mu]g of vitamin A/ml. release an acid protease into the culture medium. The pH optimum of this enzyme is similar to that of a protease obtained from a particulate fraction of the rudiments. A crude protease preparation derived from rat-liver lysosomes proved to be effective in degrading the extracellular material of cartilage, even at neutral pH. Vitamin A released a protease from a particulate preparation obtained from bovine and chick cartilage. The relationship of these studies to the physiological action of vitamin A in tissues is discussed.