Isolation of the N-terminal globular protein domains from cartilage proteoglycans. Identification of G2 domain and its lack of interaction with hyaluronate and link protein

BEHAB, a new member of the proteoglycan tandem repeat family of hyaluronan-binding proteins that is restricted to the brain

Hyaluronan (HA) is a ubiquitous component of the extracellular matrix of all tissues. In the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) HA is present throughout development and into adulthood. While the functions of HA are likely to be mediated by HA-binding proteins, no cell or tissue specific HA-binding proteins have been reported. In an effort to characterize the composition of the extracellular matrix of the CNS, we sought to identify neural HA-binding proteins. We report here the isolation and characterization of a cDNA with a high degree of sequence homology to members of the proteoglycan tandem repeat (PTR) family of HA-binding proteins. Unlike other HA-binding proteins, the expression of this cDNA is restricted to the CNS. We propose the name BEHAB, Brain Enriched HyAluronan Binding protein, for this gene. The expression of BEHAB mRNA is developmentally regulated; expression is first detected in the late embryonic period and peaks during the first two postnatal weeks. In the embryo, BEHAB is expressed at highest levels in mitotically active cells. The sequence of BEHAB has long stretches of identity between rat and cat, suggesting that the encoded protein is functionally important. The size and sequence of BEHAB are consistent with the possibility that it could serve a function like link protein, stabilizing interactions between HA and brain proteoglycans. These observations suggest that existence of other tissue specific HA-binding proteins.

Identification of a common hyaluronan binding motif in the hyaluronan binding proteins RHAMM, CD44 and link protein

We have previously identified two hyaluronan (HA) binding domains in the HA receptor, RHAMM, that occur near the carboxyl-terminus of this protein. We show here that these two HA binding domains are the only HA binding regions in RHAMM, and that they contribute approximately equally to the HA binding ability of this receptor. Mutation of domain II using recombinant polypeptides of RHAMM demonstrates that K423 and R431, spaced seven amino acids apart, are critical for HA binding activity. Domain I contains two sets of two basic amino acids, each spaced seven residues apart, and mutation of these basic amino acids reduced their binding to HA--Sepharose. These results predict that two basic amino acids flanking a seven amino acid stretch [hereafter called B(X7)B] are minimally required for HA binding activity. To assess whether this motif predicts HA binding in the intact RHAMM protein, we mutated all basic amino acids in domains I and II that form part of these motifs using site-directed mutagenesis and prepared fusion protein from the mutated cDNA. The altered RHAMM protein did not bind HA, confirming that the basic amino acids and their spacing are critical for binding. A specific requirement for arginine or lysine residues was identified since mutation of K430, R431 and K432 to histidine residues abolished binding. Clustering of basic amino acids either within or at either end of the motif enhanced HA binding activity while the occurrence of acidic residues between the basic amino acids reduced binding. The B(X7)B motif, in which B is either R or K and X7 contains no acidic residues and at least one basic amino acid, was found in all HA binding proteins molecularly characterized to date. Recombinant techniques were used to generate chimeric proteins containing either the B(X7)B motifs present in CD44 or link protein, with the amino-terminus of RHAMM (amino acids 1-238) that does not bind HA. All chimeric proteins containing the motif bound HA in transblot analyses. Site-directed mutations of these motifs in CD44 sequences abolished HA binding. Collectively, these results predict that the motif of B(X7)B as a minimal binding requirement for HA in RHAMM, CD44 and link protein, and occurs in all HA binding proteins described to date.

Molecular cloning and analysis of the protein modules of aggrecans

The large aggregating chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan of cartilage, aggrecan, has served as a prototype of proteoglycan structure. Molecular cloning has elucidated its primary structure and revealed both known and unknown domains. To date the complete structures of chicken, rat and human aggrecans have been deduced, while partial sequences have been reported for bovine aggrecan. A related proteoglycan, human versican, has also been cloned and sequenced. Both aggrecan and versican have two lectin domains, one at the amino-terminus which binds hyaluronic acid and one at the carboxyl-terminus whose physiological ligand is unknown. Both lectins have homologous counterparts in other types of proteins. Within the aggrecans the keratan sulfate domain may be variably present and also has a prominent repeat in some species. The chondroitin sulfate domain has three distinct regions which vary in their prominence in different species. The complex molecular structure of aggrecans is consistent with the concept of exon shuffling and aggrecans serve as suitable prototypes for comprehending the evolution of multi-domain proteins.

The link proteins

Aggregates of chondroitin-keratan sulfate proteoglycan (aggrecan) and hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan) are the major space-filling components of cartilage. A glycoprotein, link protein (LP; 40-48 kDa) stabilizes the aggregate by binding to both hyaluronic acid and aggrecan. In the absence of LP, aggregates are smaller (as estimated by rotary shadowing of electron micrographs) and less stable (they dissociate at pH 5) than they are in the presence of LP. The proteoglycan aggregate, including LP, is dissociated in the presence of chaotropes such as 4 M guanidine hydrochloride. On removal of the chaotrope, the complex will reassociate. This forms the basis of the isolation of LP from cartilage and has been described in detail elsewhere. Tryptic digestion of the proteoglycan aggregates results in a high molecular weight product that consists of hyaluronic acid to which is bound LP and the N-terminal globular domain of aggrecan (hyaluronic acid binding region; HABR) in a 1:1 stoichiometry. The amino acid sequences of LP and HABR are surprisingly similar. The amino acid sequence can be divided into three domains; an N-terminal domain that falls into the immunoglobulin super-family and two C-terminal domains that are similar to each other. The DNA structure echoes this similarity, in that the major domains are reflected in three separate exons in both LP and HABR. The two C-terminal domains are largely responsible for the association with HA and are related to two recently described hyaluronate-binding proteins, CD44 and TSG-6. A variety of approaches, including analysis of the forms of LP in vivo, rotary shadowing and analysis of the sequence in the immunoglobulin-like domain, have shed considerable light on the structure-function relationships of LP. This review describes the structure and function of LP in detail, focusing on what can be inferred from the similarity of LP, HABR and related molecules such as immunoglobulins and lymphocyte HA-receptors.

Fibroblast and neutrophil collagenases cleave at two sites in the cartilage aggrecan interglobular domain

The actions of recombinant human fibroblast collagenase (MMP1), purified polymorphonuclear leucocyte collagenase (MMP8) and their N-terminal catalytic domain fragments against cartilage aggrecan and an aggrecan G1-G2 fragment have been investigated in vitro. After activation with recombinant human stromelysin and typsin, both collagenases were able to degrade human and porcine aggrecans to a similar extent. An N-terminal G1-G2 fragment (150 kDa) was used to identify specific cleavage sites occurring within the proteinase-sensitive interglobular domain between G1 and G2. Two specific sites were found; one at an Asn341-Phe342 bond and another at Asp441-Leu442 (human sequence). This specificity of the collagenases for aggrecan G1-G2 was identical with that of the truncated metalloproteinase matrilysin (MMP7), but different from those of stromelysin (MMP3) and the gelatinases (MMP2 or gelatinase A; MMP9 or gelatinase B) which cleave at the Asn-Phe site, but not the Asp-Leu site. In addition, collagenase catalytic fragments lacking C-terminal hemopexin-like domains were tested and shown to exhibit the same specificities for the G1-G2 fragment as the full-length enzymes. Thus the specificity of the collagenases for cartilage aggrecan was not influenced by the presence or absence of the C-terminal domain. Together with our previous findings, the results show that stromelysin-1, matrilysin, gelatinases A and B and fibroblast and neutrophil collagenases cleave at a common, preferred site in the aggrecan interglobular domain, and additionally that both fibroblast and neutrophil collagenases cleave at a second site in the interglobular domain that is not available to stromelysin or gelatinases.

The link proteins

Aggregates of chondroitin-keratan sulfate proteoglycan (aggrecan) and hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan) are the major space-filling components of cartilage. A glycoprotein, link protein (LP; 40-48 kDa) stabilizes the aggregate by binding to both hyaluronic acid and aggrecan. In the absence of LP, aggregates are smaller (as estimated by rotary shadowing of electron micrographs) and less stable (they dissociate at pH 5) than they are in the presence of LP. The proteoglycan aggregate, including LP, is dissociated in the presence of chaotropes such as 4 M guanidine hydrochloride. On removal of the chaotrope, the complex will reassociate. This forms the basis of the isolation of LP from cartilage and has been described in detail elsewhere. Tryptic digestion of the proteoglycan aggregates results in a high molecular weight product that consists of hyaluronic acid to which is bound LP and the N-terminal globular domain of aggrecan (hyaluronic acid binding region; HABR) in a 1:1 stoichiometry. The amino acid sequences of LP and HABR are surprisingly similar. The amino acid sequence can be divided into three domains; an N-terminal domain that falls into the immunoglobulin super-family and two C-terminal domains that are similar to each other. The DNA structure echoes this similarity, in that the major domains are reflected in three separate exons in both LP and HABR. The two C-terminal domains are largely responsible for the association with HA and are related to two recently described hyaluronate-binding proteins, CD44 and TSG-6. A variety of approaches, including analysis of the forms of LP found in vivo, rotary shadowing and analysis of the sequence in the immunoglobulin-like domain, have shed considerable light on the structure-function relationships of LP. This review describes the structure and function of LP in detail, focusing on what can be inferred from the similarity of LP, HABR and related molecules such as immunoglobulins and lymphocyte HA-receptors.

Molecular cloning and analysis of the protein modules of aggrecans

The large aggregating chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan of cartilage, aggrecan, has served as a prototype of proteoglycan structure. Molecular cloning has elucidated its primary structure and revealed both known and unknown domains. To date the complete structures of chicken, rat and human aggrecans have been deduced, while partial sequences have been reported for bovine aggrecan. A related proteoglycan, human versican, has also been cloned and sequenced. Both aggrecan and versican have two lectin domains, one at the amino-terminus which binds hyaluronic acid and one at the carboxyl-terminus whose physiological ligand is unknown. Both lectins have homologous counterparts in other types of proteins. Within the aggrecans the keratan sulfate domain may be variably present and also has a prominent repeat in some species. The chondroitin sulfate domain has three distinct regions which vary in their prominence in different species. The complex molecular structure of aggrecans is consistent with the concept of exon shuffling and aggrecans serve as suitable prototypes for comprehending the evolution of multi-domain proteins.

Versican gene expression in human articular cartilage and comparison of mRNA splicing variation with aggrecan

The chondrocytes in human articular cartilage from subjects of all ages express mRNAs for both of the aggregating proteoglycans aggrecan and versican, although the level of expression of versican mRNA is much lower than that of aggrecan mRNA. Aggrecan shows alternative splicing of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain within its C-terminal globular region, but there is no evidence for a major difference in situ in the relative expression of this domain with age. At all ages studied from birth to the mature adult, a greater proportion of transcripts lacked the EGF domain. The relative proportions of the two transcripts did not change upon culture and passage of isolated chondrocytes. In contrast, the neighbouring complement regulatory protein (CRP)-like domain was predominantly expressed irrespective of age, but cell culture did result in variation of the splicing of this domain. Versican possesses two EGF-like domains and one CRP-like domain, but at all ages the three domains were predominantly present in all transcripts. This situation persisted upon culture and passage of the chondrocytes. Thus, unlike aggrecan, the versican expressed by human articular cartilage does not appear to undergo alternative splicing of its C-terminal globular region, either in cartilage in situ or in chondrocytes in culture.

Molecular cloning of chicken aggrecan. Structural analyses

The large, aggregating chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan of cartilage, aggrecan, has served as a generic model of proteoglycan structure. Molecular cloning of aggrecans has further defined their amino acid sequences and domain structures. In this study, we have obtained the complete coding sequence of chicken sternal cartilage aggrecan by a combination of cDNA and genomic DNA sequencing. The composite sequence is 6117 bp in length, encoding 1951 amino acids. Comparison of chicken aggrecan protein primary structure with rat, human and bovine aggrecans has disclosed both similarities and differences. The domains which are most highly conserved at 70-80% identity are the N-terminal domains G1 and G2 and the C-terminal domain G3. The chondroitin sulphate domain of chicken aggrecan is smaller than that of rat and human aggrecans and has very distinctive repeat sequences. It has two separate sections, one comprising 12 consecutive Ser-Gly-Glu repeats of 20 amino acids each, adjacent to the other which has 23 discontinuous Ser-Gly-Glu repeats of 10 amino acids each; this latter region, N-terminal to the former one, appears to be unique to chicken aggrecan. The two regions contain a total of 94 potential chondroitin sulphate attachment sites. Genomic comparison shows that, although chicken exons 11-14 are identical in size to the rat and human exons, chicken exon 10 is the smallest of the three species. This is also reflected in the size of its chondroitin sulphate coding region and in the total number of Ser-Gly pairs. The putative keratan sulphate domain shows 31-45% identity with the other species and lacks the repetitive sequences seen in the others. In summary, while the linear arrangement of specific domains of chicken aggrecan is identical to that in the aggrecans of other species, and while there is considerable identity of three separate domains, chicken aggrecan demonstrates unique features, notably in its chondroitin sulphate domain and its keratan sulphate domain. Thus different variants of chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate domains may have evolved separately to fulfil specific biochemical and physiological functions.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against epitopes within the core protein structure of the large aggregating proteoglycan (aggrecan) from the swarm rat chondrosarcoma

The core protein of the large hyaline cartilage proteoglycan, aggrecan, is composed of six distinct domains: globular 1 (G1), interglobular, globular 2 (G2), keratan sulfate attachment, chondroitin sulfate (CS) attachment, and globular 3 (G3). Monoclonal antibodies that recognize epitopes in these domains were raised against Swarm rat chondrosarcoma aggrecan that was either denatured through reduction and alkylation or partially deglycosylated through chondroitinase ABC digestion or alkali elimination, the latter with or without sulfite addition. Monoclonal antibodies were further characterized for reactivity to purified aggrecan substructures including rat chondrosarcoma G1 and CS attachment domains, a recombinant rat chondrosarcoma G3 domain fusion protein, bovine articular cartilage G2 domain, and rat chondrosarcoma link protein (LP). Biochemical characterization of the specificities of these monoclonal antibodies indicated that one (1C6) recognized an epitope shared by both the G1 and the G2 domains; one (5C4) recognized an epitope shared by both LP and the G1 domain; one (7D1) recognized an epitope shared by both the G1 and the CS attachment domains; two (14A1 and 15B2) recognized epitopes in the CS attachment domain; one (14B4) recognized an epitope in the G3 domain; and one (13D1) recognized a ubiquitous epitope shared by the G1, G2, G3, and CS attachment domains of aggrecan and also LP. Collectively the specificities of these antibodies confirm the occurrence of multiple repeated epitopes (both carbohydrate and protein in nature) throughout the different domain structures of aggrecan. These antibodies have been proven to be useful for identifying aggrecan-like molecules in several connective tissues other than cartilage.

Type VI collagen microfibrils: evidence for a structural association with hyaluronan

Type VI collagen, a widespread structural component of connective tissues, has been isolated in abundance from fetal bovine skin by a procedure involving bacterial collagenase digestion under nonreducing, nondenaturing conditions and gel filtration chromatography. Rotary shadowing electron microscopic analysis revealed that the collagen VI was predominantly in the form of extensive intact microfibrillar arrays. These microfibrils were seen in association with hyaluronan, which was identified by its ability to bind the G1 fragment of cartilage proteoglycan. Treatment with highly purified hyaluronidase largely disrupted the collagen VI microfibrils into component tetramers, double tetramers, and short microfibrillar sections. Subsequent incubation of disrupted collagen VI in the presence of hyaluronan facilitated a partial repolymerization of the microfibrils. In vitro binding studies have also demonstrated that type VI collagen binds hyaluronan with a relatively high affinity. These studies demonstrate that a specific structural relationship exists between type VI collagen and hyaluronan. This association is likely to be of primary importance in the growth and remodeling processes of connective tissues.

Immunological analysis of proteoglycan structural changes in the early stage of experimental osteoarthritic canine cartilage lesions

Specific modifications of the proteoglycan (PG) structure of osteoarthritic (OA) dog cartilage in relation to endogenous metalloprotease activity were examined using murine anti-proteoglycan monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). OA lesions were induced over a period of 8 weeks in crossbred dogs (Pond-Nuki model). The articular cartilage was removed and homogenized in a Tris buffer, pH 7.5, and then divided into four groups: direct PG extraction, no addition, presence of 1 mM p-aminophenyl mercuric acetate (APMA), and presence of 1 mM APMA and 10 mM o-phenanthroline, incubated for 42 h at 37 degrees C followed by PG extraction. MoAbs reactive with PG protein and carbohydrate epitopes included 1C6, 3B3, 5D4, D1B2, and m4D6. The results showed marked alterations induced by APMA activation of the endogenous metalloproteases. PG changes were apparent at at least three sites: one was either in the hyaluronic acid-binding region or between the hyaluronic-binding region and the G2 globular domain, another was between the keratan-sulfate-rich domain and the chondroitin sulfate-attachment domain, and a third was in the chondroitin sulfate-attachment domain. Constitutive metalloprotease activity resulted in less marked PG alterations with preservation of functional PG aggregation to hyaluronan.

Increased release of matrix components from articular cartilage in experimental canine osteoarthritis

The release rates of specific components of the proteoglycan aggregates (G1 domain, the chondroitin sulfate and keratan sulfate containing portion of the protein core, and link protein) of the articular cartilage of mature beagles were studied at early stages of canine experimental osteoarthritis (OA), generated by transection of the anterior cruciate ligament. Analysis of cartilage explants and synovial fluids indicates that at early stages of experimental OA, there is increased release of the proteoglycan aggregates of the articular cartilage. This involves a release from the tissue of the components of the proteoglycan that are specifically involved with aggregation together with the glycosaminoglycans of the proteoglycan. These components were detected at elevated levels in the media of explants of cartilage from the operated joint, and in the synovial fluids of the operated joints.

Mammalian vitreous humor contains networks of hyaluronan molecules: electron microscopic analysis using the hyaluronan-binding region (G1) of aggrecan and link protein

Vitreous humor from human, bovine, and chicken eyes was analyzed by rotary shadowing to characterize further the supramolecular organization of the gel-like matrix which forms this tissue. Extensive filamentous networks, distinct from collagen fibrils, were found in both human and bovine vitreous but not in chicken vitreous. The networks consisted of branching structures of various diameters, due to variable numbers of hyaluronan molecules being laterally associated with each other and apparently giving rise to a three-dimensional lattice. These networks could be decorated in a specific and regular manner by the hyaluronan-binding region called G1 purified from bovine nasal septum cartilage. The extent of decoration of hyaluronan was dependent on the relative concentration of G1. In the presence of an excess of G1 the networks were destabilized giving rise to individual unbranched hyaluronan chains of varying length that were saturated with G1. One or more globular proteins, as yet uncharacterized, were seen interacting with the hyaluronan networks, often at branch points. These proteins may serve to stabilize the three-dimensional structure of the matrix although highly ordered networks were also observed without globular proteins. Link protein, which also binds to hyaluronan, bound to the networks in a fashion clearly distinct from G1. Neither G1 nor link protein bound directly to human or bovine vitreous collagen fibrils. However, link protein did bind extensively to the glycosaminoglycan coat of chicken vitreous collagen fibrils described previously (D. W. Wright, and R. Mayne J. Ultrastruct. Mol. Struct. Res. 100, 224-234, 1988), while G1 did not. Digestion of the chicken vitreous collagen fibrils with Streptomyces hyaluronidase did not result in the removal of the glycosaminoglycan coat of the collagen fibrils nor did it affect the binding of G1 or link protein to the fibrils, indicating that hyaluronan is not a component of this structure. These studies demonstrate that proteins with specific binding properties can be used as probes to investigate the structure of the native vitreous humor gel from several species and suggest that this method potentially can be used for structural studies of other connective tissue matrices.

Cleavage of proteoglycan aggregate by leucocyte elastase

The partial degradation of proteoglycan aggregate by human leucocyte elastase yielded products that banded with Mr 190,000, 140,000, 88,000, and 71,000 when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Analysis of these bands revealed that the 190,000- and 140,000-Da bands contained chondroitin and keratan sulfate stubs and had N-terminal amino acid sequences corresponding to a sequence starting at residue 398 of the core protein of rat or human aggrecan. With increased time of digestion, the staining intensities of the 190,000-, 140,000-, and 88,000-Da bands decreased relative to the 71,000-Da band. Analysis of the 88,000- and 71,000-Da bands showed that they contained peptides substituted only with keratan sulfate stubs and that each band contained two peptides with different N-terminal sequences. One of these corresponded to a sequence that started at residue 398 of rat or human aggrecan and the other to the N-terminal sequence of bovine aggrecan. Under conditions of complete digestion, bands of 71,000 and 56,000 Da which contained only keratan sulfate stubs were observed on SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The 71,000-Da band was shown to have a single sequence similar to that starting at residue 398 of human and rat aggrecan and thus represents the globular domain 2 (G2) of the core protein of aggrecan. The 56,000-Da band was shown to have a sequence similar to that of the N-terminal sequence of bovine aggrecan indicating that this peptide corresponds to the globular domain 1 (G1) of the molecule. These results suggest that leucocyte elastase cleaves the core protein of aggrecan between valine 397 and isoleucine 398, which are located in the interglobular domain linking the G1 and G2 domains of the core protein of aggrecan. Further digestion of the proteoglycan aggregate with elastase resulted in the cleavage of the core protein within the chondroitin sulfate attachment domains.

Evidence of proteoglycan/proteoglycan interactions within aggregates

Nonaggregated proteoglycan monomers, digested fragments of the monomers, as well as link proteins have been shown to self-associate. These associations have not been shown to occur on the aggregate. However, previous reports, using the Kleinschmidt technique of monolayer electron microscopy, have noted proteoglycan subunits on the aggregate that appear to interact, either as branched proteoglycans or as proteoglycan subunits that appear to share the same attachment site on the hyaluronic acid chain. Branching and shared attachments were noted in all aggregates analyzed in this study. Increasing the average space between proteoglycan subunits on the reconstituted aggregate resulted in a significant decrease in branched proteoglycans, indicating either a weak association occurring on the aggregate, or an artifact created by a three-dimensional structure being reduced to a two-dimensional monolayer image. The shared attachments were independent of both the presence of link proteins and changes in spacing between proteoglycans, suggesting a proteoglycan-proteoglycan interaction occurring before aggregation. The interactions were not influenced by proteoglycan concentration at the time of aggregation. Link proteins, however, did increase the number of proteoglycans on the aggregate that could be cross-linked with a bifunctional reagent, suggesting that link proteins facilitate proteoglycan-proteoglycan interactions.

Metalloproteinase digestion of cartilage proteoglycan. Pattern of cleavage by stromelysin and susceptibility to collagenase

The action of purified rabbit bone stromelysin was investigated on proteoglycan aggregates from pig laryngeal cartilage. The enzyme caused a rapid fall in viscosity of proteoglycan aggregate solution (6 mg/ml), and the products of a partial digest (60% loss of relative viscosity) and a complete digest (95% loss of relative viscosity) were characterized. Analysis by gel chromatography on Sepharose 2B under associative conditions showed that 95% of the glycosaminoglycans in the complete digest were in small-sized fragments, whereas most of the hyaluronan-binding G1 domain and link protein remained intact and bound to hyaluronan. In contrast, there was extensive digestion of the G2 domain which resulted in 76% loss in its detection by immunoassay. Analysis of the partial digest also showed considerable loss (40%) of detection of the G2 domain, but the glycosaminoglycan-rich fragments were much larger than in the complete digest. There was also much less cleavage to create small fragments containing the G1 domain. This was evident on SDS/PAGE analysis where a 58 kDa G1 domain fragment was abundant in the complete digest, but was only present in small amounts in the partial digest. There was also only very limited conversion of link protein from a 44 kDa form to a 40 kDa form. The digestion of proteoglycan aggregate (6 mg/ml) by stromelysin was unaffected by the addition of a high concentration of extra chondroitin sulphate chains (14 mg/ml), and the digestion of proteoglycan monomer showed that the G1 domain was resistant to stromelysin digestion even when not bound to hyaluronan and link protein. The results show that stromelysin degrades the proteoglycan protein core with major cleavages close to, but not within, the G1 domain, and extensive cleavage in other regions. Experiments with purified collagenase, a metalloproteinase structurally related to stromelysin, showed that it too cleaved proteoglycan at several sites within the glycosaminoglycan-rich region of the core protein. Metalloproteinase attack on proteoglycan thus not only occurs with stromelysin but also with collagenase.

Interaction of a brain extracellular matrix protein with hyaluronic acid

A glial hyaluronate-binding protein (GHAP) was isolated from bovine spinal cord and partially characterized. Bovine GHAP consisted of three immunologically related polypeptides with molecular masses of 76, 64, and 54 kDa and isoelectric points of 4.1, 4.2, and 4.4, respectively. Peptide mapping and partial amino acid sequencing showed that all three polypeptides derive from the same protein. The protein was localized immunohistochemically with rabbit antisera in the white matter surrounding the myelinated axons. Sugar analyses indicated that the three polypeptides are glycosylated and the sugar residues account for at least 30% of their weight. After enzymatic deglycosylation, the apparent molecular mass of the bovine GHAP was reduced to 43 kDa. The biochemical properties of bovine GHAP were compared to those of human GHAP. Initial peptide mapping indicated similarities between bovine and human GHAP. Partial amino acid sequencing of bovine GHAP showed a striking identity (up to 90%) with human GHAP and with the hyaluronate binding domain of the large human fibroblast proteoglycan, versican. Bovine and human GHAP were demonstrated to bind specifically to hyaluronic acid (HA) with one protein molecule binding to an average 17 disaccharide repeating units. The binding of bovine and human GHAP was inhibited by oligosaccharides of HA and specifically by the octamer. Salt concentrations of up to 1 M NaCl had very little effect on the binding of the GHAP to HA. The GHAP-HA interaction was pH dependent. Dissociation only took place at low pH (less than 3.5). Analysis of several polypeptides derived from GHAP by limited proteolysis allowed us to conclude that one of the tandem repeated sequences is sufficient for HA binding and that the aminoterminal domain (which contains an immunoglobulin-like fold) is not involved in the GHAP-HA-binding event.

The major proteoglycan of adult rabbit skeletal muscle. Relationship to small proteoglycans of other tissues

We have been interested in examining the putative biological role(s) of the major proteoglycan of adult skeletal muscle. The small proteoglycans of adult rabbit skeletal muscle and tendon were extracted and purified by sequential density-gradient ultracentrifugation, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. They appeared to be homogeneous by the criterion of gel electrophoresis in SDS and to yield one major product, the core protein, after digestion with chondroitin ABC lyase, also observed after gel electrophoresis. Two major products were obtained when the intact proteoglycans were cleaved by CNBr, and those peptides were separated by SDS/PAGE and by ion-exchange chromatography. Sequencing of the N-terminal amino acids of either the intact proteoglycans or the CNBr-cleaved products allowed for comparison of the muscle and tendon proteoglycan with derived amino acid sequences previously reported for bovine bone proteoglycan. The bone and tendon proteoglycan sequences were remarkably similar, whereas those of the muscle proteoglycan differed from the other two molecules. The major site of glycosaminoglycan substitution was on a peptide fragment distant from the N-terminus, and a presumptive serine residue at position 4 from the N-terminus also appeared to be substituted, perhaps with a small glycosaminoglycan chain. These results provide some insight into the diversity of small proteoglycans of the PG-II class and provide a basis for exploring their mode of genetic expression.

Proteoglycans of human articular cartilage. Identification of several populations of large and small proteoglycans and of hyaluronic acid-binding proteins in successive cartilage extracts

Two specimens of human articulage were successively extracted with solutions of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 7 M-urea and 4 M-guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn-HCl). Proteoglycans from individual extracts were fractionated by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography and gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-400. The presence of three populations of large proteoglycans was demonstrated in all three extracts by composite agarose/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (CAPAGE). The population corresponding to the fastest CAPAGE band of aggregating proteoglycans was shown to be extremely polydisperse, having Mr (as estimated by SDS/PAGE) decreasing continuously from more than 300,000 to the size corresponding to 'free' hyaluronic acid-binding region (HABR) (about 70,000). A rather polydisperse set of HABR-containing fragments which spanned a broad range of sizes, and also differed in their keratan sulphate contents, was isolated from both 7 M-urea and 4 M-Gdn-HCl extracts. PBS and 7 M-urea extracts, but not the Gdn-HCl extract, further contained small proteoglycans, identified as fast-migrating bands on CAPAGE electrophoretograms. One of those small species was recognized with an antibody against the small proteoglycan PG II; the other two remain to be positively identified. However, the glycosaminoglycan of the small species which was present exclusively in the PBS extract was identified as keratan sulphate; this species may thus belong to the family of small keratan sulphate-containing proteolygans.

1-C-6 epitope in cartilage proteoglycan G2 domain is masked by keratan sulphate

The presence of the protein epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody 1-C-6 was investigated on the globular G1 and G2 domains of pig cartilage proteoglycan core protein. After reduction of disulphide bonds and removal of keratan sulphate chains with keratanase, both G1 and G2 domains were shown to contain the epitope. However, without keratanase digestion the epitope on the G2 domain was poorly detected. The results suggest that a keratan sulphate chain substituted close to the epitope sequence in the G2 domain prevents antibody access to the epitope and thus masks its detection. This shows the 1-C-6 epitope to be a conserved protein sequence in the G2 domain of proteoglycans from different species, but its detection may be masked by glycosylation.

Proteoglycans of articular cartilage: changes in aging and in joint disease

In human osteoarthritis and animal models of degenerative joint disease, damage to the structure of cartilage proteoglycan is a central event. Loss of proteoglycan from the matrix alters the physicochemical properties of the tissue, but the pathological process and biochemical mechanisms that lead to this loss are poorly understood. This review examines the present state of knowledge regarding proteoglycan structure and the changes that occur in aging and osteoarthritis. It also discusses how these studies will influence the development of new methods for measuring cartilage breakdown.

An ELISA plate-based assay for hyaluronan using biotinylated proteoglycan G1 domain (HA-binding region)

An enzyme-linked absorbent assay for the determination of hyaluronan (HA) has been developed. The procedure is sensitive, simple and is based on a microtitre plate format. The assay involves competition between HA absorbed to the plate and HA free in solution for binding to biotinylated cartilage proteoglycan binding region (G1 domain). The range of the assay is 10-2500 ng/ml with 50% inhibition at about 200 ng/ml. The assay can be used in guanidine HCl up to 0.6 M and in 0.5% deoxycholate or 0.5% nonidet. This new technique involves fewer experimental steps and is simpler to perform than other methods.