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Ozsvar J, Yang C, Cain SA, Baldock C, Tarakanova A, Weiss AS. Tropoelastin and Elastin Assembly. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:643110. [PMID: 33718344 PMCID: PMC7947355 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.643110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastic fibers are an important component of the extracellular matrix, providing stretch, resilience, and cell interactivity to a broad range of elastic tissues. Elastin makes up the majority of elastic fibers and is formed by the hierarchical assembly of its monomer, tropoelastin. Our understanding of key aspects of the assembly process have been unclear due to the intrinsic properties of elastin and tropoelastin that render them difficult to study. This review focuses on recent developments that have shaped our current knowledge of elastin assembly through understanding the relationship between tropoelastin’s structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin Ozsvar
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chengeng Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Stuart A Cain
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Division of Cell-Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Division of Cell-Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Tarakanova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Anthony S Weiss
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Vindin H, Mithieux SM, Weiss AS. Elastin architecture. Matrix Biol 2019; 84:4-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Hedtke T, Schräder CU, Heinz A, Hoehenwarter W, Brinckmann J, Groth T, Schmelzer CEH. A comprehensive map of human elastin cross-linking during elastogenesis. FEBS J 2019; 286:3594-3610. [PMID: 31102572 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Elastin is an essential structural protein in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates. It is the core component of elastic fibers, which enable connective tissues such as those of the skin, lungs or blood vessels to stretch and recoil. This function is provided by elastin's exceptional properties, which mainly derive from a unique covalent cross-linking between hydrophilic lysine-rich motifs of units of the monomeric precursor tropoelastin. To date, elastin's cross-linking is poorly investigated. Here, we purified elastin from human tissue and cleaved it into soluble peptides using proteases with different specificities. We then analyzed elastin's molecular structure by identifying unmodified residues, post-translational modifications and cross-linked peptides by high-resolution mass spectrometry and amino acid analysis. The data revealed the presence of multiple isoforms in parallel and a complex and heterogeneous molecular interconnection. We discovered that the same lysine residues in different monomers were simultaneously involved in various cross-link types or remained unmodified. Furthermore, both types of cross-linking domains, Lys-Pro and Lys-Ala domains, participate not only in bifunctional inter- but also in intra-domain cross-links. We elucidated the sequences of several desmosine-containing peptides and the contribution of distinct domains such as 6, 14 and 25. In contrast to earlier assumptions proposing that desmosine cross-links are formed solely between two domains, we elucidated the structure of a peptide that proves a desmosine formation with participation of three Lys-Ala domains. In summary, these results provide new and detailed insights into the cross-linking process, which takes place within and between human tropoelastin units in a stochastic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Hedtke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, Halle (Saale), Germany.,Biomedical Materials Group, Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
| | - Christoph U Schräder
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Heinz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Wolfgang Hoehenwarter
- Proteome Analytics Research Group, Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jürgen Brinckmann
- Institute of Virology and Cell Biology & Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Germany
| | - Thomas Groth
- Biomedical Materials Group, Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
| | - Christian E H Schmelzer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, Halle (Saale), Germany.,Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.,Institute of Applied Dermatopharmacy at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (IADP), Germany
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Schräder CU, Heinz A, Majovsky P, Karaman Mayack B, Brinckmann J, Sippl W, Schmelzer CEH. Elastin is heterogeneously cross-linked. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:15107-15119. [PMID: 30108173 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Elastin is an essential vertebrate protein responsible for the elasticity of force-bearing tissues such as those of the lungs, blood vessels, and skin. One of the key features required for the exceptional properties of this durable biopolymer is the extensive covalent cross-linking between domains of its monomer molecule tropoelastin. To date, elastin's exact molecular assembly and mechanical properties are poorly understood. Here, using bovine elastin, we investigated the different types of cross-links in mature elastin to gain insight into its structure. We purified and proteolytically cleaved elastin from a single tissue sample into soluble cross-linked and noncross-linked peptides that we studied by high-resolution MS. This analysis enabled the elucidation of cross-links and other elastin modifications. We found that the lysine residues within the tropoelastin sequence were simultaneously unmodified and involved in various types of cross-links with different other domains. The Lys-Pro domains were almost exclusively linked via lysinonorleucine, whereas Lys-Ala domains were found to be cross-linked via lysinonorleucine, allysine aldol, and desmosine. Unexpectedly, we identified a high number of intramolecular cross-links between lysine residues in close proximity. In summary, we show on the molecular level that elastin formation involves random cross-linking of tropoelastin monomers resulting in an unordered network, an unexpected finding compared with previous assumptions of an overall beaded structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph U Schräder
- From the Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Andrea Heinz
- From the Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany.,the Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Petra Majovsky
- the Proteome Analytics Research Group, Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Berin Karaman Mayack
- From the Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Jürgen Brinckmann
- the Institute of Virology and Cell Biology, Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck 23538, Germany, and
| | - Wolfgang Sippl
- From the Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Christian E H Schmelzer
- From the Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany, .,the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
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Muiznieks LD, Miao M, Sitarz EE, Keeley FW. Contribution of domain 30 of tropoelastin to elastic fiber formation and material elasticity. Biopolymers 2016; 105:267-75. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D. Muiznieks
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Ave. Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Ming Miao
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Ave. Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Eva E. Sitarz
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Ave. Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Fred W. Keeley
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Ave. Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, 1 King's College Circle; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S1A8 Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 1 King's College Circle; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S1A8 Canada
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Miao M, Sitarz E, Bellingham CM, Won E, Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW. Sequence and domain arrangements influence mechanical properties of elastin-like polymeric elastomers. Biopolymers 2013; 99:392-407. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Revised: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Miao
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
| | - Eva Sitarz
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
| | - Catherine M. Bellingham
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
| | - Emily Won
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
| | - Lisa D. Muiznieks
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
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Song H, Parkinson J. Modelling the self-assembly of elastomeric proteins provides insights into the evolution of their domain architectures. PLoS Comput Biol 2012; 8:e1002406. [PMID: 22396636 PMCID: PMC3291537 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2011] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Elastomeric proteins have evolved independently multiple times through evolution. Produced as monomers, they self-assemble into polymeric structures that impart properties of stretch and recoil. They are composed of an alternating domain architecture of elastomeric domains interspersed with cross-linking elements. While the former provide the elasticity as well as help drive the assembly process, the latter serve to stabilise the polymer. Changes in the number and arrangement of the elastomeric and cross-linking regions have been shown to significantly impact their assembly and mechanical properties. However, to date, such studies are relatively limited. Here we present a theoretical study that examines the impact of domain architecture on polymer assembly and integrity. At the core of this study is a novel simulation environment that uses a model of diffusion limited aggregation to simulate the self-assembly of rod-like particles with alternating domain architectures. Applying the model to different domain architectures, we generate a variety of aggregates which are subsequently analysed by graph-theoretic metrics to predict their structural integrity. Our results show that the relative length and number of elastomeric and cross-linking domains can significantly impact the morphology and structural integrity of the resultant polymeric structure. For example, the most highly connected polymers were those constructed from asymmetric rods consisting of relatively large cross-linking elements interspersed with smaller elastomeric domains. In addition to providing insights into the evolution of elastomeric proteins, simulations such as those presented here may prove valuable for the tuneable design of new molecules that may be exploited as useful biomaterials. Elastomeric proteins such as elastin, resilin, abductin and wheat gluten represent a remarkable class of self-assembling proteins that provide properties of extensibility and elastic recoil. Although unrelated from an evolutionary viewpoint, these proteins nonetheless share a common sequence design involving highly repetitive elastomeric regions interspersed with elements capable of forming cross-links that help stabilize the formation of polymers. Attempts to explore the influence of domain architecture on the self-assembly and mechanical properties of elastomeric proteins at the molecular level have largely been hindered by a general lack of detailed structural information. Here we introduce a novel theoretical study based on random walks to simulate the self-assembly of elastomeric proteins. Applying this model, we explored the impact of different configurations of elastomeric and cross-linking elements on the stability of the resultant polymer. Through exploring the complex relationships between elastomeric domains, required to drive self-assembly, and cross-linking domains, required for structural integrity, results from these simulations provide insights into the molecular basis for the evolution of elastomeric proteins as well as help guide the rational design of novel elastomeric-peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Song
- Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John Parkinson
- Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Muiznieks LD, Weiss AS, Keeley FW. Structural disorder and dynamics of elastin. Biochem Cell Biol 2010; 88:239-50. [PMID: 20453927 DOI: 10.1139/o09-161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin is a self-assembling, extracellular-matrix protein that is the major provider of tissue elasticity. Here we review structural studies of elastin from over four decades, and draw together evidence for solution flexibility and conformational disorder that is inherent in all levels of structural organization. The characterization of disorder is consistent with an entropy-driven mechanism of elastic recoil. We conclude that conformational disorder is a constitutive feature of elastin structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Muiznieks
- Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.
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