1
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Mabuchi T, Kijima J, Yamashita Y, Miura E, Muraoka T. Coacervate Formation of Elastin-like Polypeptides in Explicit Aqueous Solution Using Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Mabuchi
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira,
Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi980-8577, Japan
- Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira,
Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi980-8577, Japan
| | - Junko Kijima
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira,
Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi980-8577, Japan
| | - Yukino Yamashita
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho,
Koganei, Tokyo184-8588, Japan
| | - Erika Miura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho,
Koganei, Tokyo184-8588, Japan
| | - Takahiro Muraoka
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho,
Koganei, Tokyo184-8588, Japan
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2
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Hume RD, Kanagalingam S, Deshmukh T, Chen S, Mithieux SM, Rashid FN, Roohani I, Lu J, Doan T, Graham D, Clayton ZE, Slaughter E, Kizana E, Stempien-Otero AS, Brown P, Thomas L, Weiss AS, Chong JJ. Tropoelastin Improves Post-Infarct Cardiac Function. Circ Res 2023; 132:72-86. [PMID: 36453283 PMCID: PMC9829044 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.122.321123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myocardial infarction (MI) is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Following MI, necrotic cardiomyocytes are replaced by a stiff collagen-rich scar. Compared to collagen, the extracellular matrix protein elastin has high elasticity and may have more favorable properties within the cardiac scar. We sought to improve post-MI healing by introducing tropoelastin, the soluble subunit of elastin, to alter scar mechanics early after MI. METHODS AND RESULTS We developed an ultrasound-guided direct intramyocardial injection method to administer tropoelastin directly into the left ventricular anterior wall of rats subjected to induced MI. Experimental groups included shams and infarcted rats injected with either PBS vehicle control or tropoelastin. Compared to vehicle treated controls, echocardiography assessments showed tropoelastin significantly improved left ventricular ejection fraction (64.7±4.4% versus 46.0±3.1% control) and reduced left ventricular dyssynchrony (11.4±3.5 ms versus 31.1±5.8 ms control) 28 days post-MI. Additionally, tropoelastin reduced post-MI scar size (8.9±1.5% versus 20.9±2.7% control) and increased scar elastin (22±5.8% versus 6.2±1.5% control) as determined by histological assessments. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analyses of rat infarcts showed that tropoelastin injection increased genes associated with elastic fiber formation 7 days post-MI and reduced genes associated with immune response 11 days post-MI. To show translational relevance, we performed immunohistochemical analyses on human ischemic heart disease cardiac samples and showed an increase in tropoelastin within fibrotic areas. Using RNA-seq we also demonstrated the tropoelastin gene ELN is upregulated in human ischemic heart disease and during human cardiac fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation. Furthermore, we showed by immunocytochemistry that human cardiac fibroblast synthesize increased elastin in direct response to tropoelastin treatment. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate for the first time that purified human tropoelastin can significantly repair the infarcted heart in a rodent model of MI and that human cardiac fibroblast synthesize elastin. Since human cardiac fibroblasts are primarily responsible for post-MI scar synthesis, our findings suggest exciting future clinical translation options designed to therapeutically manipulate this synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D. Hume
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., S.K., T.D., S.C., F.N.R., J.L., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.).,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., T.D., F.R., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.)
| | - Shaan Kanagalingam
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., S.K., T.D., S.C., F.N.R., J.L., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.)
| | - Tejas Deshmukh
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., S.K., T.D., S.C., F.N.R., J.L., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.).,Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia (T.D., J.L., E.K., P.B., L.T., J.J.H.C.).,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., T.D., F.R., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.)
| | - Siqi Chen
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., S.K., T.D., S.C., F.N.R., J.L., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.)
| | - Suzanne M. Mithieux
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (S.M.M., A.S.W.).,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (S.M.M., A.S.W.)
| | - Fairooj N. Rashid
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., S.K., T.D., S.C., F.N.R., J.L., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.)
| | - Iman Roohani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (I.R.).,School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Australia (I.R.)
| | - Juntang Lu
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., S.K., T.D., S.C., F.N.R., J.L., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.).,Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia (T.D., J.L., E.K., P.B., L.T., J.J.H.C.)
| | - Tram Doan
- Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (T.D.‚ D.G.)
| | - Dinny Graham
- Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (T.D.‚ D.G.).,Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW, Australia (D.G.).,Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (D.G., L.T.)
| | - Zoe E. Clayton
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., S.K., T.D., S.C., F.N.R., J.L., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.).,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., T.D., F.R., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.)
| | | | - Eddy Kizana
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., S.K., T.D., S.C., F.N.R., J.L., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.).,Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia (T.D., J.L., E.K., P.B., L.T., J.J.H.C.).,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., T.D., F.R., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.)
| | - April S. Stempien-Otero
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA (A.S.S.-O.)
| | - Paula Brown
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia (T.D., J.L., E.K., P.B., L.T., J.J.H.C.)
| | - Liza Thomas
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia (T.D., J.L., E.K., P.B., L.T., J.J.H.C.).,Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (D.G., L.T.)
| | | | - James J.H. Chong
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., S.K., T.D., S.C., F.N.R., J.L., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.).,Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia (T.D., J.L., E.K., P.B., L.T., J.J.H.C.).,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (R.D.H., T.D., F.R., Z.E.C., E.K., J.J.H.C.)
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3
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Mohammadi A, Sorensen GL, Pilecki B. MFAP4-Mediated Effects in Elastic Fiber Homeostasis, Integrin Signaling and Cancer, and Its Role in Teleost Fish. Cells 2022; 11:cells11132115. [PMID: 35805199 PMCID: PMC9265350 DOI: 10.3390/cells11132115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein belonging to the fibrinogen-related domain superfamily. MFAP4 is highly expressed in elastin-rich tissues such as lung, blood vessels and skin. MFAP4 is involved in organization of the ECM, regulating proper elastic fiber assembly. On the other hand, during pathology MFAP4 actively contributes to disease development and progression due to its interactions with RGD-dependent integrin receptors. Both tissue expression and circulating MFAP4 levels are associated with various disorders, including liver fibrosis and cancer. In other experimental models, such as teleost fish, MFAP4 appears to participate in host defense as a macrophage-specific innate immune molecule. The aim of this review is to summarize the accumulating evidence that indicates the importance of MFAP4 in homeostasis as well as pathological conditions, discuss its known biological functions with special focus on elastic fiber assembly, integrin signaling and cancer, as well as describe the reported functions of non-mammalian MFAP4 in fish. Overall, our work provides a comprehensive overview on the role of MFAP4 in health and disease.
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4
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Boraldi F, Lofaro FD, Cossarizza A, Quaglino D. The "Elastic Perspective" of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Role of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031559. [PMID: 35163482 PMCID: PMC8835950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Elastin represents the structural component of the extracellular matrix providing elastic recoil to tissues such as skin, blood vessels and lungs. Elastogenic cells secrete soluble tropoelastin monomers into the extracellular space where these monomers associate with other matrix proteins (e.g., microfibrils and glycoproteins) and are crosslinked by lysyl oxidase to form insoluble fibres. Once elastic fibres are formed, they are very stable, highly resistant to degradation and have an almost negligible turnover. However, there are circumstances, mainly related to inflammatory conditions, where increased proteolytic degradation of elastic fibres may lead to consequences of major clinical relevance. In severely affected COVID-19 patients, for instance, the massive recruitment and activation of neutrophils is responsible for the profuse release of elastases and other proteolytic enzymes which cause the irreversible degradation of elastic fibres. Within the lungs, destruction of the elastic network may lead to the permanent impairment of pulmonary function, thus suggesting that elastases can be a promising target to preserve the elastic component in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, intrinsic and extrinsic factors additionally contributing to damaging the elastic component and to increasing the spread and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Boraldi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.B.); (F.D.L.)
| | - Francesco Demetrio Lofaro
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.B.); (F.D.L.)
| | - Andrea Cossarizza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Daniela Quaglino
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (F.B.); (F.D.L.)
- Correspondence:
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5
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Parker MW, Kao JA, Huang A, Berger JM, Botchan MR. Molecular determinants of phase separation for Drosophila DNA replication licensing factors. eLife 2021; 10:e70535. [PMID: 34951585 PMCID: PMC8813052 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in proteins can drive the formation of membraneless compartments in cells. Phase-separated structures enrich for specific partner proteins and exclude others. Previously, we showed that the IDRs of metazoan DNA replication initiators drive DNA-dependent phase separation in vitro and chromosome binding in vivo, and that initiator condensates selectively recruit replication-specific partner proteins (Parker et al., 2019). How initiator IDRs facilitate LLPS and maintain compositional specificity is unknown. Here, using Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) Cdt1 as a model initiation factor, we show that phase separation results from a synergy between electrostatic DNA-bridging interactions and hydrophobic inter-IDR contacts. Both sets of interactions depend on sequence composition (but not sequence order), are resistant to 1,6-hexanediol, and do not depend on aromaticity. These findings demonstrate that distinct sets of interactions drive condensate formation and specificity across different phase-separating systems and advance efforts to predict IDR LLPS propensity and partner selection a priori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Parker
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Jonchee A Kao
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Alvin Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - James M Berger
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Michael R Botchan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
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6
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Workman RJ, Pettitt BM. Thermodynamic Compensation in Peptides Following Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:6431-6439. [PMID: 34110175 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c02093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins often incorporates intrinsically disordered proteins or those with disordered regions. Examining these processes via the entropy change is desirable for establishing a quantitative foundation with which to probe and understand these phase transitions. Of interest is the effect of residue sequence on the entropy of the peptide backbone. In this work we model these systems via all atom simulations of liquid-liquid phase separation of peptides. Systems of supersaturated pentapeptides separate into a peptide-dense liquid droplet phase as well as a dilute (saturated) aqueous phase. An analysis of the change in backbone conformational entropy associated with the phase transition was performed. We examined systems of four different pentapeptides (GGGGG, GGQGG, GGNGG, and GGVGG) in order to explore the effect of sequence variation on the conformational entropy, as well as the effect of side chain variation on the physical characteristics of the droplet phases. We find that the loss of conformational entropy that accompanies aqueous → droplet transitions is more than compensated by a decrease in interaction enthalpy as contributions to the free energy change for the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley J Workman
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - B Montgomery Pettitt
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
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7
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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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8
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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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9
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Tarakanova A, Ozsvar J, Weiss A, Buehler M. Coarse-grained model of tropoelastin self-assembly into nascent fibrils. Mater Today Bio 2019; 3:100016. [PMID: 32159149 PMCID: PMC7061556 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2019.100016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin is the dominant building block of elastic fibers that impart structural integrity and elasticity to a range of important tissues, including the lungs, blood vessels, and skin. The elastic fiber assembly process begins with a coacervation stage where tropoelastin monomers reversibly self-assemble into coacervate aggregates that consist of multiple molecules. In this paper, an atomistically based coarse-grained model of tropoelastin assembly is developed. Using the previously determined atomistic structure of tropoelastin, the precursor molecule to elastic fibers, as the basis for coarse-graining, the atomistic model is mapped to a MARTINI-based coarse-grained framework to account for chemical details of protein-protein interactions, coupled to an elastic network model to stabilize the structure. We find that self-assembly of monomers generates up to ∼70 nm of dense aggregates that are distinct at different temperatures, displaying high temperature sensitivity. Resulting assembled structures exhibit a combination of fibrillar and globular substructures within the bulk aggregates. The results suggest that the coalescence of tropoelastin assemblies into higher order structures may be reinforced in the initial stages of coacervation by directed assembly, supporting the experimentally observed presence of heterogeneous cross-linking. Self-assembly of tropoelastin is driven by interactions of specific hydrophobic domains and the reordering of water molecules in the system. Domain pair orientation analysis throughout the self-assembly process at different temperatures suggests coacervation is a driving force to orient domains for heterogeneous downstream cross-linking. The model provides a framework to characterize macromolecular self-assembly for elastin, and the formulation could easily be adapted to similar assembly systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - J. Ozsvar
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - A.S. Weiss
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - M.J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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10
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Cocciolone AJ, Hawes JZ, Staiculescu MC, Johnson EO, Murshed M, Wagenseil JE. Elastin, arterial mechanics, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2018; 315:H189-H205. [PMID: 29631368 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00087.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Large, elastic arteries are composed of cells and a specialized extracellular matrix that provides reversible elasticity and strength. Elastin is the matrix protein responsible for this reversible elasticity that reduces the workload on the heart and dampens pulsatile flow in distal arteries. Here, we summarize the elastin protein biochemistry, self-association behavior, cross-linking process, and multistep elastic fiber assembly that provide large arteries with their unique mechanical properties. We present measures of passive arterial mechanics that depend on elastic fiber amounts and integrity such as the Windkessel effect, structural and material stiffness, and energy storage. We discuss supravalvular aortic stenosis and autosomal dominant cutis laxa-1, which are genetic disorders caused by mutations in the elastin gene. We present mouse models of supravalvular aortic stenosis, autosomal dominant cutis laxa-1, and graded elastin amounts that have been invaluable for understanding the role of elastin in arterial mechanics and cardiovascular disease. We summarize acquired diseases associated with elastic fiber defects, including hypertension and arterial stiffness, diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, calcification, and aneurysms and dissections. We mention animal models that have helped delineate the role of elastic fiber defects in these acquired diseases. We briefly summarize challenges and recent advances in generating functional elastic fibers in tissue-engineered arteries. We conclude with suggestions for future research and opportunities for therapeutic intervention in genetic and acquired elastinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin J Cocciolone
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jie Z Hawes
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Marius C Staiculescu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Elizabeth O Johnson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Monzur Murshed
- Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Medicine, and Shriners Hospital for Children, McGill University , Montreal, Quebec , Canada
| | - Jessica E Wagenseil
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University , St. Louis, Missouri
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11
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Yeo G, Baldock C, Wise SG, Weiss AS. Targeted Modulation of Tropoelastin Structure and Assembly. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2017; 3:2832-2844. [PMID: 29152561 PMCID: PMC5686564 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tropoelastin, as the monomer unit of elastin, assembles into elastic fibers that impart strength and resilience to elastic tissues. Tropoelastin is also widely used to manufacture versatile materials with specific mechanical and biological properties. The assembly of tropoelastin into elastic fibers or biomaterials is crucially influenced by key submolecular regions and specific residues within these domains. In this work, we identify the functional contributions of two rarely occurring negatively charged residues, glutamate 345 in domain 19 and glutamate 414 in domain 21, in jointly maintaining the native conformation of the tropoelastin hinge, bridge and foot regions. Alanine substitution of E345 and/or E414 variably alters the positioning and interactive accessibility of these regions, as illustrated by nanostructural studies and detected by antibody and cell probes. These structural changes are associated with a lower propensity for monomer coacervation, cross-linking into morphologically and functionally atypical hydrogels, and markedly impaired and abnormal elastic fiber formation. Our work indicates the crucial significance of both E345 and E414 residues in modulating specific local structure and higher-order assembly of human tropoelastin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle
C. Yeo
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and
Environmental Sciences, School of Physics, Sydney Medical School, and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome
Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine
and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Steven G. Wise
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and
Environmental Sciences, School of Physics, Sydney Medical School, and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- The
Heart Research Institute, 7 Eliza Street, Newtown, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and
Environmental Sciences, School of Physics, Sydney Medical School, and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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12
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Abstract
The protein elastin imparts extensibility, elastic recoil, and resilience to tissues including arterial walls, skin, lung alveoli, and the uterus. Elastin and elastin-like peptides are hydrophobic, disordered, and undergo liquid-liquid phase separation upon self-assembly. Despite extensive study, the structure of elastin remains controversial. We use molecular dynamics simulations on a massive scale to elucidate the structural ensemble of aggregated elastin-like peptides. Consistent with the entropic nature of elastic recoil, the aggregated state is stabilized by the hydrophobic effect. However, self-assembly does not entail formation of a hydrophobic core. The polypeptide backbone forms transient, sparse hydrogen-bonded turns and remains significantly hydrated even as self-assembly triples the extent of non-polar side chain contacts. Individual chains in the assembly approach a maximally-disordered, melt-like state which may be called the liquid state of proteins. These findings resolve long-standing controversies regarding elastin structure and function and afford insight into the phase separation of disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Rauscher
- Molecular MedicineThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Régis Pomès
- Molecular MedicineThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
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13
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Reichheld SE, Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW, Sharpe S. Direct observation of structure and dynamics during phase separation of an elastomeric protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E4408-E4415. [PMID: 28507126 PMCID: PMC5465911 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1701877114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite its growing importance in biology and in biomaterials development, liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins remains poorly understood. In particular, the molecular mechanisms underlying simple coacervation of proteins, such as the extracellular matrix protein elastin, have not been reported. Coacervation of the elastin monomer, tropoelastin, in response to heat and salt is a critical step in the assembly of elastic fibers in vivo, preceding chemical cross-linking. Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) derived from the tropoelastin sequence have been shown to undergo a similar phase separation, allowing formation of biomaterials that closely mimic the material properties of native elastin. We have used NMR spectroscopy to obtain site-specific structure and dynamics of a self-assembling elastin-like polypeptide along its entire self-assembly pathway, from monomer through coacervation and into a cross-linked elastic material. Our data reveal that elastin-like hydrophobic domains are composed of transient β-turns in a highly dynamic and disordered chain, and that this disorder is retained both after phase separation and in elastic materials. Cross-linking domains are also highly disordered in monomeric and coacervated ELP3 and form stable helices only after chemical cross-linking. Detailed structural analysis combined with dynamic measurements from NMR relaxation and diffusion data provides direct evidence for an entropy-driven mechanism of simple coacervation of a protein in which transient and nonspecific intermolecular hydrophobic contacts are formed by disordered chains, whereas bulk water and salt are excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean E Reichheld
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4
| | - Lisa D Muiznieks
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4
| | - Fred W Keeley
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A8
| | - Simon Sharpe
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4;
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A8
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14
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Single nucleotide polymorphisms and domain/splice variants modulate assembly and elastomeric properties of human elastin. Implications for tissue specificity and durability of elastic tissue. Biopolymers 2017; 107. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.23007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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15
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Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW. Biomechanical Design of Elastic Protein Biomaterials: A Balance of Protein Structure and Conformational Disorder. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2016; 3:661-679. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D. Muiznieks
- Molecular
Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
| | - Fred W. Keeley
- Molecular
Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
- Department
of Biochemistry and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, 1 King’s College Circle, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
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Schmelzer CE, Nagel MB, Dziomba S, Merkher Y, Sivan SS, Heinz A. Prolyl hydroxylation in elastin is not random. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1860:2169-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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17
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Mora Huertas AC, Schmelzer CEH, Hoehenwarter W, Heyroth F, Heinz A. Molecular-level insights into aging processes of skin elastin. Biochimie 2016; 128-129:163-73. [PMID: 27569260 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Skin aging is characterized by different features including wrinkling, atrophy of the dermis and loss of elasticity associated with damage to the extracellular matrix protein elastin. The aim of this study was to investigate the aging process of skin elastin at the molecular level by evaluating the influence of intrinsic (chronological aging) and extrinsic factors (sun exposure) on the morphology and susceptibility of elastin towards enzymatic degradation. Elastin was isolated from biopsies derived from sun-protected or sun-exposed skin of differently aged individuals. The morphology of the elastin fibers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Mass spectrometric analysis and label-free quantification allowed identifying differences in the cleavage patterns of the elastin samples after enzymatic digestion. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to visualize differences between the samples and to determine the contribution of extrinsic and intrinsic aging to the proteolytic susceptibility of elastin. Moreover, the release of potentially bioactive peptides was studied. Skin aging is associated with the decomposition of elastin fibers, which is more pronounced in sun-exposed tissue. Marker peptides were identified, which showed an age-related increase or decrease in their abundances and provide insights into the progression of the aging process of elastin fibers. Strong age-related cleavage occurs in hydrophobic tropoelastin domains 18, 20, 24 and 26. Photoaging makes the N-terminal and central parts of the tropoelastin molecules more susceptible towards enzymatic cleavage and, hence, accelerates the age-related degradation of elastin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela C Mora Huertas
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christian E H Schmelzer
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Frank Heyroth
- Interdisciplinary Center of Material Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Andrea Heinz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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18
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Lin Y, Wang S, Chen Y, Wang Q, Burke KA, Spedden EM, Staii C, Weiss AS, Kaplan DL. Electrodeposited gels prepared from protein alloys. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2016; 10:803-14. [PMID: 25816881 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.14.230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Silk-tropoelastin alloys, composed of recombinant human tropoelastin and regenerated Bombyx mori silk fibroin, are an emerging, versatile class of biomaterials endowed with tunable combinations of physical and biological properties. Electrodeposition of these alloys provides a programmable means to assemble functional gels with both spatial and temporal controllability. MATERIALS & METHODS Tropoelastin-modified silk was prepared by enzymatic coupling between tyrosine residues. Hydrogel coatings were electrodeposited using two wire electrodes. RESULTS & DISCUSSION Mechanical characterization and in vitro cell culture revealed enhanced adhesive capability and cellular response of these alloy gels as compared with electrogelled silk alone. CONCLUSION These electro-depositable silk-tropoelastin alloys constitute a suitable coating material for nanoparticle-based drug carriers and offer a novel opportunity for on-demand encapsulation/release of nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinan Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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19
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Muiznieks LD, Reichheld SE, Sitarz EE, Miao M, Keeley FW. Proline-poor hydrophobic domains modulate the assembly and material properties of polymeric elastin. Biopolymers 2015; 103:563-73. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D. Muiznieks
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, Hospital For Sick Children; 555 University Ave Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Sean E. Reichheld
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, Hospital For Sick Children; 555 University Ave Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Eva E. Sitarz
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, Hospital For Sick Children; 555 University Ave Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Ming Miao
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, Hospital For Sick Children; 555 University Ave Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
| | - Fred W. Keeley
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, Hospital For Sick Children; 555 University Ave Toronto ON M5G1X8 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S1A8 Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S1A8 Canada
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20
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Yeo GC, Baldock C, Wise SG, Weiss AS. A negatively charged residue stabilizes the tropoelastin N-terminal region for elastic fiber assembly. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:34815-26. [PMID: 25342751 PMCID: PMC4263881 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.606772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropoelastin is an extracellular matrix protein that assembles into elastic fibers that provide elasticity and strength to vertebrate tissues. Although the contributions of specific tropoelastin regions during each stage of elastogenesis are still not fully understood, studies predominantly recognize the central hinge/bridge and C-terminal foot as the major participants in tropoelastin assembly, with a number of interactions mediated by the abundant positively charged residues within these regions. However, much less is known about the importance of the rarely occurring negatively charged residues and the N-terminal coil region in tropoelastin assembly. The sole negatively charged residue in the first half of human tropoelastin is aspartate 72. In contrast, the same region comprises 17 positively charged residues. We mutated this aspartate residue to alanine and assessed the elastogenic capacity of this novel construct. We found that D72A tropoelastin has a decreased propensity for initial self-association, and it cross-links aberrantly into denser, less porous hydrogels with reduced swelling properties. Although the mutant can bind cells normally, it does not form elastic fibers with human dermal fibroblasts and forms fewer atypical fibers with human retinal pigmented epithelial cells. This impaired functionality is associated with conformational changes in the N-terminal region. Our results strongly point to the role of the Asp-72 site in stabilizing the N-terminal segment of human tropoelastin and the importance of this region in facilitating elastic fiber assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle C Yeo
- From the School of Molecular Bioscience and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Clair Baldock
- the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Steven G Wise
- the Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales 2042, Australia, and the Sydney Medical School and
| | - Anthony S Weiss
- From the School of Molecular Bioscience and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia, Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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21
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Muiznieks LD, Cirulis JT, van der Horst A, Reinhardt DP, Wuite GJ, Pomès R, Keeley FW. Modulated growth, stability and interactions of liquid-like coacervate assemblies of elastin. Matrix Biol 2014; 36:39-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2014.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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22
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Wise SG, Yeo GC, Hiob MA, Rnjak-Kovacina J, Kaplan DL, Ng MKC, Weiss AS. Tropoelastin: a versatile, bioactive assembly module. Acta Biomater 2014; 10:1532-41. [PMID: 23938199 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2013] [Revised: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Elastin provides structural integrity, biological cues and persistent elasticity to a range of important tissues, including the vasculature and lungs. Its critical importance to normal physiology makes it a desirable component of biomaterials that seek to repair or replace these tissues. The recent availability of large quantities of the highly purified elastin monomer, tropoelastin, has allowed for a thorough characterization of the mechanical and biological mechanisms underpinning the benefits of mature elastin. While tropoelastin is a flexible molecule, a combination of optical and structural analyses has defined key regions of the molecule that directly contribute to the elastomeric properties and control the cell interactions of the protein. Insights into the structure and behavior of tropoelastin have translated into increasingly sophisticated elastin-like biomaterials, evolving from classically manufactured hydrogels and fibers to new forms, stabilized in the absence of incorporated cross-linkers. Tropoelastin is also compatible with synthetic and natural co-polymers, expanding the applications of its potential use beyond traditional elastin-rich tissues and facilitating finer control of biomaterial properties and the design of next-generation tailored bioactive materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven G Wise
- The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Giselle C Yeo
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Matti A Hiob
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
| | - Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Martin K C Ng
- The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Anthony S Weiss
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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23
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Reichheld SE, Muiznieks LD, Stahl R, Simonetti K, Sharpe S, Keeley FW. Conformational transitions of the cross-linking domains of elastin during self-assembly. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:10057-68. [PMID: 24550393 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.533893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin is the intrinsically disordered polymeric protein imparting the exceptional properties of extension and elastic recoil to the extracellular matrix of most vertebrates. The monomeric precursor of elastin, tropoelastin, as well as polypeptides containing smaller subsets of the tropoelastin sequence, can self-assemble through a colloidal phase separation process called coacervation. Present understanding suggests that self-assembly is promoted by association of hydrophobic domains contained within the tropoelastin sequence, whereas polymerization is achieved by covalent joining of lysine side chains within distinct alanine-rich, α-helical cross-linking domains. In this study, model elastin polypeptides were used to determine the structure of cross-linking domains during the assembly process and the effect of sequence alterations in these domains on assembly and structure. CD temperature melts indicated that partial α-helical structure in cross-linking domains at lower temperatures was absent at physiological temperature. Solid-state NMR demonstrated that β-strand structure of the cross-linking domains dominated in the coacervate state, although α-helix was predominant after subsequent cross-linking of lysine side chains with genipin. Mutation of lysine residues to hydrophobic amino acids, tyrosine or alanine, leads to increased propensity for β-structure and the formation of amyloid-like fibrils, characterized by thioflavin-T binding and transmission electron microscopy. These findings indicate that cross-linking domains are structurally labile during assembly, adapting to changes in their environment and aggregated state. Furthermore, the sequence of cross-linking domains has a dramatic effect on self-assembly properties of elastin-like polypeptides, and the presence of lysine residues in these domains may serve to prevent inappropriate ordered aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean E Reichheld
- From the Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8 and
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24
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TURNER PAULA, JOSHI GAURAVV, WEEKS CANDREW, WILLIAMSON RSCOTT, PUCKETT AAROND, JANORKAR AMOLV. NANO AND MICRO-STRUCTURES OF ELASTIN-LIKE POLYPEPTIDE-BASED MATERIALS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1142/s1793984413430022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) containing materials have spurred significant research interest for biomedical applications exploiting their biocompatible, biodegradable and nonimmunogenic nature while maintaining precise control over their chemical structure and functionality through genetic engineering. Physical, mechanical and biological properties of ELPs could be further manipulated using genetic engineering or through conjugation with a variety of chemical moieties. These chemical and physical modifications also achieve interesting micro- and nanostructured ELP-based materials. Here, we review the recent developments during the past decade in the methods to engineer elastin-like materials, available genetic and chemical modification methods and applications of ELP micro and nanostructures in tissue engineering and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- PAUL A. TURNER
- Department of Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | - GAURAV V. JOSHI
- Department of Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | - C. ANDREW WEEKS
- Department of Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | - R. SCOTT WILLIAMSON
- Department of Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | - AARON D. PUCKETT
- Department of Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | - AMOL V. JANORKAR
- Department of Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
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Saxena R, Nanjan MJ. Elastin-like polypeptides and their applications in anticancer drug delivery systems: a review. Drug Deliv 2013; 22:156-67. [PMID: 24215207 DOI: 10.3109/10717544.2013.853210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are large molecular weight biopolymers. They have been widely studied as macromolecular carriers for targeted delivery of drugs. The aim of the present article is to review the available information on ELPs (including our recent investigations), their properties, drug delivery applications to tumor sites and future perspectives. This review also provides information on the use of short synthetic ELPs for making ELP-drug conjugates, for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs. In the present review we also focus on the point that short ELPs can also be used for targeting anticancer drugs to tumor sites as they behave similar to long ELPs regarding their capacity to undergo inverse temperature transition (ITT) behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubha Saxena
- TIFAC CORE HD, J.S.S. College of Pharmacy (Off Campus, JSS University, Mysore) , Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu , India
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26
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Yamanaka M, Ishizaki Y, Nakagawa T, Taoka A, Fukumori Y. Purification and Characterization of Coacervate-Forming Cuticular Proteins from Papilio xuthus Pupae. Zoolog Sci 2013; 30:534-42. [DOI: 10.2108/zsj.30.534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Yamanaka
- Division of Life Sciences, Graduate school of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Yumi Ishizaki
- School of Natural System, College of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Taro Nakagawa
- School of Natural System, College of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Azuma Taoka
- School of Natural System, College of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Fukumori
- School of Natural System, College of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
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27
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Sommer N, Sattler M, Weise JM, Wenck H, Gallinat S, Fischer F. A tissue-engineered human dermal construct utilizing fibroblasts and transforming growth factor β1 to promote elastogenesis. Biotechnol J 2013; 8:317-26. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201200209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2012] [Revised: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW. Molecular assembly and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix: A fibrous protein perspective. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2012; 1832:866-75. [PMID: 23220448 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2012.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Revised: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix is an integral and dynamic component of all tissues. Macromolecular compositions and structural architectures of the matrix are tissue-specific and typically are strongly influenced by the magnitude and direction of biomechanical forces experienced as part of normal tissue function. Fibrous extracellular networks of collagen and elastin provide the dominant response to tissue mechanical forces. These matrix proteins enable tissues to withstand high tensile and repetitive stresses without plastic deformation or rupture. Here we provide an overview of the hierarchical molecular and supramolecular assembly of collagens and elastic fibers, and review their capacity for mechanical behavior in response to force. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fibrosis: Translation of basic research to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Muiznieks
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, The Hospital For Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Canada
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29
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Bochicchio B, Pepe A. Role of polyproline II conformation in human tropoelastin structure. Chirality 2012; 23:694-702. [PMID: 22135799 DOI: 10.1002/chir.20979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the molecular studies on human tropoelastin domains accomplished by Tamburro and co-workers in the last decade. The used approach is the reductionist approach applied to human tropoelastin and is based on the observation that the tropoelastin gene exhibits a cassette-like organization, with a regular alternation of cross-linking and hydrophobic domains putatively responsible for the elasticity of the protein. The peculiar structure of human tropoelastin gene prompted us to study the isolated domains encoded by the exons of tropoelastin, with the perspective to get deep insights into the structural properties of the whole protein. At the molecular level, the results clearly evidence large flexibility of the polypeptide chains in the hydrophobic domains, which oscillate between rather extended and folded conformations. An important role was assigned to poly-proline II conformation considered as the hinge structure in the dynamic conformational equilibrium suggested for the hydrophobic domains. For the lysine-rich cross-linking domains, the structural studies exactly localized α-helix along the polypeptide sequence. Furthermore, at supramolecular level, these studies showed that several domains are able to self-assemble in two different aggregation patterns, the fibrous elastin-like structure for some proline-rich hydrophobic domains and the amyloid-like for some glycine-rich hydrophobic domains. Accordingly, the studies suggest that the reductionist approach was a valid tool for studying a complex protein, such as elastin, elucidating not only the structure but also the specific role played by its constituent domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Bochicchio
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry, Department of Chemistry A. M. Tamburro, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy.
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30
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Yeo GC, Baldock C, Tuukkanen A, Roessle M, Dyksterhuis LB, Wise SG, Matthews J, Mithieux SM, Weiss AS. Tropoelastin bridge region positions the cell-interactive C terminus and contributes to elastic fiber assembly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:2878-83. [PMID: 22328151 PMCID: PMC3286909 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1111615108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The tropoelastin monomer undergoes stages of association by coacervation, deposition onto microfibrils, and cross-linking to form elastic fibers. Tropoelastin consists of an elastic N-terminal coil region and a cell-interactive C-terminal foot region linked together by a highly exposed bridge region. The bridge region is conveniently positioned to modulate elastic fiber assembly through association by coacervation and its proximity to dominant cross-linking domains. Tropoelastin constructs that either modify or remove the entire bridge and downstream regions were assessed for elastogenesis. These constructs focused on a single alanine substitution (R515A) and a truncation (M155n) at the highly conserved arginine 515 site that borders the bridge. Each form displayed less efficient coacervation, impaired hydrogel formation, and decreased dermal fibroblast attachment compared to wild-type tropoelastin. The R515A mutant protein additionally showed reduced elastic fiber formation upon addition to human retinal pigmented epithelium cells and dermal fibroblasts. The small-angle X-ray scattering nanostructure of the R515A mutant protein revealed greater conformational flexibility around the bridge and C-terminal regions. This increased flexibility of the R515A mutant suggests that the tropoelastin R515 residue stabilizes the structure of the bridge region, which is critical for elastic fiber assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle C Yeo
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Kasamatsu S, Hachiya A, Fujimura T, Sriwiriyanont P, Haketa K, Visscher MO, Kitzmiller WJ, Bello A, Kitahara T, Kobinger GP, Takema Y. Essential role of microfibrillar-associated protein 4 in human cutaneous homeostasis and in its photoprotection. Sci Rep 2011; 1:164. [PMID: 22355679 PMCID: PMC3240987 DOI: 10.1038/srep00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2011] [Accepted: 11/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
UVB-induced cutaneous photodamage/photoaging is characterized by qualitative and quantitative deterioration in dermal extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as collagen and elastic fibers. Disappearance of microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP-4), a possible limiting factor for cutaneous elasticity, was documented in photoaged dermis, but its function is poorly understood. To characterize its possible contribution to photoprotection, MFAP-4 expression was either augmented or inhibited in a human skin xenograft photodamage murine model and human fibroblasts. Xenografted skin with enhanced MFAP-4 expression was protected from UVB-induced photodamage/photoaging accompanied by the prevention of ECM degradation and aggravated elasticity. Additionally, remarkably increased or decreased fibrillin-1-based microfibril development was observed when fibroblasts were treated with recombinant MFAP-4 or with MFAP-4-specific siRNA, respectively. Immunoprecipitation analysis confirmed direct interaction between MFAP-4 and fibrillin-1. Taken together, our findings reveal the essential role of MFAP-4 in photoprotection and offer new therapeutic opportunities to prevent skin-associated pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Kasamatsu
- Biological Science Laboratories, Kao Corporation, Haga, Tochigi, 321–3497, Japan
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Yeo GC, Keeley FW, Weiss AS. Coacervation of tropoelastin. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2011; 167:94-103. [PMID: 21081222 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2010.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2010] [Revised: 10/13/2010] [Accepted: 10/15/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The coacervation of tropoelastin represents the first major stage of elastic fiber assembly. The process has been modeled in vitro by numerous studies, initially with mixtures of solubilized elastin, and subsequently with synthetic elastin peptides that represent hydrophobic repeat units, isolated hydrophobic domains, segments of alternating hydrophobic and cross-linking domains, or the full-length monomer. Tropoelastin coacervation in vitro is characterized by two stages: an initial phase separation, which involves a reversible inverse temperature transition of monomer to n-mer; and maturation, which is defined by the irreversible coalescence of coacervates into large species with fibrillar structures. Coacervation is an intrinsic ability of tropoelastin. It is primarily influenced by the number, sequence, and contextual arrangement of hydrophobic domains, although hydrophilic sequences can also affect the behavior of the hydrophobic domains and thus affect coacervation. External conditions including ionic strength, pH, and temperature also directly influence the propensity of tropoelastin to self-associate. Coacervation is an endothermic, entropically-driven process driven by the cooperative interactions of hydrophobic domains following destabilization of the clathrate-like water shielding these regions. The formation of such assemblies is believed to follow a helical nucleation model of polymerization. Coacervation is closely associated with conformational transitions of the monomer, such as increased β-structures in hydrophobic domains and α-helices in cross-linking domains. Tropoelastin coacervation in vivo is thought to mainly involve the central hydrophobic domains. In addition, cell-surface glycosaminoglycans and microfibrillar proteins may regulate the process. Coacervation is essential for progression to downstream elastogenic stages, and impairment of the process can result in elastin haploinsufficiency disorders such as supravalvular aortic stenosis.
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Baldock C, Oberhauser AF, Ma L, Lammie D, Siegler V, Mithieux SM, Tu Y, Chow JYH, Suleman F, Malfois M, Rogers S, Guo L, Irving TC, Wess TJ, Weiss AS. Shape of tropoelastin, the highly extensible protein that controls human tissue elasticity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:4322-7. [PMID: 21368178 PMCID: PMC3060269 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1014280108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin enables the reversible deformation of elastic tissues and can withstand decades of repetitive forces. Tropoelastin is the soluble precursor to elastin, the main elastic protein found in mammals. Little is known of the shape and mechanism of assembly of tropoelastin as its unique composition and propensity to self-associate has hampered structural studies. In this study, we solve the nanostructure of full-length and corresponding overlapping fragments of tropoelastin using small angle X-ray and neutron scattering, allowing us to identify discrete regions of the molecule. Tropoelastin is an asymmetric coil, with a protruding foot that encompasses the C-terminal cell interaction motif. We show that individual tropoelastin molecules are highly extensible yet elastic without hysteresis to perform as highly efficient molecular nanosprings. Our findings shed light on how biology uses this single protein to build durable elastic structures that allow for cell attachment to an appended foot. We present a unique model for head-to-tail assembly which allows for the propagation of the molecule's asymmetric coil through a stacked spring design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Andres F. Oberhauser
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Liang Ma
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Donna Lammie
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4LU, United Kingdom
| | - Veronique Siegler
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4LU, United Kingdom
| | - Suzanne M. Mithieux
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Yidong Tu
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - John Yuen Ho Chow
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Farhana Suleman
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Malfois
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Rogers
- ISIS Science and Technology Facilities Council, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom; and
| | - Liang Guo
- BioCAT, Center for Synchrotron Radiation Research and Instrumentation and Department of Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616
| | - Thomas C. Irving
- BioCAT, Center for Synchrotron Radiation Research and Instrumentation and Department of Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616
| | - Tim J. Wess
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4LU, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Cheung KLY, Bates M, Ananthanarayanan VS. Effect of FKBP65, a putative elastin chaperone, on the coacervation of tropoelastin in vitro. Biochem Cell Biol 2011; 88:917-25. [PMID: 21102654 DOI: 10.1139/o10-137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
FKBP65 is a protein of the endoplasmic reticulum that is relatively abundant in elastin-producing cells and is associated with tropoelastin in the secretory pathway. To test an earlier suggestion by Davis and co-workers that FKBP65 could act as an intracellular chaperone for elastin, we obtained recombinant FKBP65 (rFKBP65) by expressing it in E. coli and examined its effect on the coacervation characteristics of chicken aorta tropoelastin (TE) using an in vitro turbidimetric assay. Our results reveal that rFKBP65 markedly promotes the initiation of coacervation of TE without significantly affecting the temperature of onset of coacervation. This effect shows saturation at a 1:2 molar ratio of TE to rFKBP65. By contrast, FKBP12, a peptidyl prolyl isomerase, has a negligible effect on TE coacervation. Moreover, the effect of rFKBP65 on TE coacervation is unaffected by the addition of rapamycin, an inhibitor of peptidyl prolyl isomerase (PPIase) activity. These observations rule out the involvement of the PPIase activity of rFKBP65 in modulating the coacervation of TE. Additional experiments using a polypeptide model of TE showed that rFKBP65, while promoting coacervation, may retard the maturation of this model polypeptide into larger aggregates. Based on these results, we suggest that FKBP65 may act as an elastin chaperone in vivo by controlling both the coacervation and the maturation stages of its self-assembly into fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin L Y Cheung
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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36
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Han J, Lazarovici P, Pomerantz C, Chen X, Wei Y, Lelkes PI. Co-electrospun blends of PLGA, gelatin, and elastin as potential nonthrombogenic scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering. Biomacromolecules 2010; 12:399-408. [PMID: 21182235 DOI: 10.1021/bm101149r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In search for novel biomimetic scaffolds for application in vascular tissue engineering, we evaluated a series of fibrous scaffolds prepared by coelectrospinning tertiary blends of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), gelatin, and elastin (PGE). By systematically varying the ratios of PLGA and gelatin, we could fine-tune fiber size and swelling upon hydration as well as the mechanical properties of the scaffolds. Of all PGE blends tested, PGE321 (PLGA, gelatin, elastin v/v/v ratios of 3:2:1) produced the smallest fiber size (317 ± 46 nm, 446 ± 69 nm once hydrated) and exhibited the highest Young's modulus (770 ± 131 kPa) and tensile strength (130 ± 7 kPa). All PGE scaffolds supported the attachment and metabolization of human endothelial cells (ECs) and bovine aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) with some variances in EC morphology and cytoskeletal spreading observed at 48 h postseeding, whereas no morphologic differences were observed at confluence (day 8). The rate of metabolization of ECs, but not of SMCs, was lower than that on tissue culture plastic and depended on the specific PGE composition. Importantly, PGE scaffolds were capable of guiding the organotypic distribution of ECs and SMCs on and within the scaffolds, respectively. Moreover, the EC monolayer generated on the PGE scaffold surface was nonthrombogenic and functional, as assessed by the basal and cytokine-inducible levels of mRNA expression and amidolytic activity of tissue factor, a key player in the extrinsic clotting cascade. Taken together, our data indicate the potential application of PGE scaffolds in vascular tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjia Han
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Department of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
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37
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Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW. Proline periodicity modulates the self-assembly properties of elastin-like polypeptides. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:39779-89. [PMID: 20947499 PMCID: PMC3000959 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.164467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2010] [Revised: 09/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin is a self-assembling protein of the extracellular matrix that provides tissues with elastic extensibility and recoil. The monomeric precursor, tropoelastin, is highly hydrophobic yet remains substantially disordered and flexible in solution, due in large part to a high combined threshold of proline and glycine residues within hydrophobic sequences. In fact, proline-poor elastin-like sequences are known to form amyloid-like fibrils, rich in β-structure, from solution. On this basis, it is clear that hydrophobic elastin sequences are in general optimized to avoid an amyloid fate. However, a small number of hydrophobic domains near the C terminus of tropoelastin are substantially depleted of proline residues. Here we investigated the specific contribution of proline number and spacing to the structure and self-assembly propensities of elastin-like polypeptides. Increasing the spacing between proline residues significantly decreased the ability of polypeptides to reversibly self-associate. Real-time imaging of the assembly process revealed the presence of smaller colloidal droplets that displayed enhanced propensity to cluster into dense networks. Structural characterization showed that these aggregates were enriched in β-structure but unable to bind thioflavin-T. These data strongly support a model where proline-poor regions of the elastin monomer provide a unique contribution to assembly and suggest a role for localized β-sheet in mediating self-assembly interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D. Muiznieks
- From the Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8 and
| | - Fred W. Keeley
- From the Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8 and
- the Department of Biochemistry, the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
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38
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Bandiera A, Sist P, Urbani R. Comparison of Thermal Behavior of Two Recombinantly Expressed Human Elastin-Like Polypeptides for Cell Culture Applications. Biomacromolecules 2010; 11:3256-65. [DOI: 10.1021/bm100644m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bandiera
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Paola Sist
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ranieri Urbani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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Holst J, Watson S, Lord MS, Eamegdool SS, Bax DV, Nivison-Smith LB, Kondyurin A, Ma L, Oberhauser AF, Weiss AS, Rasko JEJ. Substrate elasticity provides mechanical signals for the expansion of hemopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Nat Biotechnol 2010; 28:1123-8. [PMID: 20890282 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.1687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2010] [Accepted: 09/07/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Surprisingly little is known about the effects of the physical microenvironment on hemopoietic stem and progenitor cells. To explore the physical effects of matrix elasticity on well-characterized primitive hemopoietic cells, we made use of a uniquely elastic biomaterial, tropoelastin. Culturing mouse or human hemopoietic cells on a tropoelastin substrate led to a two- to threefold expansion of undifferentiated cells, including progenitors and mouse stem cells. Treatment with cytokines in the presence of tropoelastin had an additive effect on this expansion. These biological effects required substrate elasticity, as neither truncated nor cross-linked tropoelastin reproduced the phenomenon, and inhibition of mechanotransduction abrogated the effects. Our data suggest that substrate elasticity and tensegrity are important mechanisms influencing hemopoietic stem and progenitor cell subsets and could be exploited to facilitate cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Holst
- Gene & Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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40
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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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41
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Akhtar K, Broekelmann TJ, Miao M, Keeley FW, Starcher BC, Pierce RA, Mecham RP, Adair-Kirk TL. Oxidative and nitrosative modifications of tropoelastin prevent elastic fiber assembly in vitro. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:37396-404. [PMID: 20847053 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.126789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastic fibers are extracellular structures that provide stretch and recoil properties of tissues, such as lungs, arteries, and skin. Elastin is the predominant component of elastic fibers. Tropoelastin (TE), the precursor of elastin, is synthesized mainly during late fetal and early postnatal stages. The turnover of elastin in normal adult tissues is minimal. However, in several pathological conditions often associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, elastogenesis is re-initiated, but newly synthesized elastic fibers appear abnormal. We sought to determine the effects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) on the assembly of TE into elastic fibers. Immunoblot analyses showed that TE is oxidatively and nitrosatively modified by peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and by activated monocytes and macrophages via release of ONOO(-) and HOCl. In an in vitro elastic fiber assembly model, oxidatively modified TE was unable to form elastic fibers. Oxidation of TE enhanced coacervation, an early step in elastic fiber assembly, but reduced cross-linking and interactions with other proteins required for elastic fiber assembly, including fibulin-4, fibulin-5, and fibrillin-2. These findings establish that ROS/RNS can modify TE and that these modifications affect the assembly of elastic fibers. Thus, we speculate that oxidative stress may contribute to the abnormal structure and function of elastic fibers in pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Akhtar
- Departments of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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42
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Dyksterhuis LB, Weiss AS. Homology models for domains 21-23 of human tropoelastin shed light on lysine crosslinking. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 396:870-3. [PMID: 20457133 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2010] [Accepted: 05/04/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The contiguous crosslinking domain at the center of human tropoelastin encoded by exons 21-23 contains an unusual 'hinge' region thought to adopt both open and closed conformations. Key lysines 425 and 437 have been implicated in both artificial and lysyl oxidase mediated crosslinks. We have examined the importance of hinge conformation to the proximity of these lysines and their ability to undergo intramolecular and intermolecular crosslinks using homology models. The results, counter intuitively, indicate that the more open hinge conformations favor intramolecular crosslinking, while the more closed conformations favor intermolecular crosslinking. We also present evidence that the sidechains of lysines 425 and 437 are able to make direct contact enabling an intramolecular lysyl oxidase mediated crosslink.
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Affiliation(s)
- L B Dyksterhuis
- Molecular and Health Technologies, CSIRO, Victoria 3168, Australia.
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43
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Heinz A, Jung MC, Duca L, Sippl W, Taddese S, Ihling C, Rusciani A, Jahreis G, Weiss AS, Neubert RHH, Schmelzer CEH. Degradation of tropoelastin by matrix metalloproteinases--cleavage site specificities and release of matrikines. FEBS J 2010; 277:1939-56. [PMID: 20345904 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2010.07616.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To provide a basis for the development of approaches to treat elastin-degrading diseases, the aim of this study was to investigate the degradation of the natural substrate tropoelastin by the elastinolytic matrix metalloproteinases MMP-7, MMP-9, and MMP-12 and to compare the cleavage site specificities of the enzymes using complementary MS techniques and molecular modeling. Furthermore, the ability of the three proteases to release bioactive peptides was studied. Tropoelastin was readily degraded by all three MMPs. Eighty-nine cleavage sites in tropoelastin were identified for MMP-12, whereas MMP-7 and MMP-9 were found to cleave at only 58 and 63 sites, respectively. Cleavages occurred predominantly in the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of tropoelastin. With respect to the cleavage site specificities, the study revealed that all three MMPs similarly tolerate hydrophobic and/or aliphatic amino acids, including Pro, Gly, Ile, and Val, at P(1)'. MMP-7 shows a strong preference for Leu at P(1)', which is also well accepted by MMP-9 and MMP-12. Of all three MMPs, MMP-12 best tolerates bulky charged and aromatic amino acids at P(1)'. All three MMPs showed a clear preference for Pro at P(3) that could be structurally explained by molecular modeling. Analysis of the generated peptides revealed that all three MMPs show a similar ability to release bioactive sequences, with MMP-12 producing the highest number of these peptides. Furthermore, the generated peptides YTTGKLPYGYGPGG, YGARPGVGVGGIP, and PGFGAVPGA, containing GxxPG motifs that have not yet been proven to be bioactive, were identified as new matrikines upon biological activity testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Heinz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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44
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Wise SG, Mithieux SM, Weiss AS. Engineered tropoelastin and elastin-based biomaterials. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2009; 78:1-24. [PMID: 20663482 DOI: 10.1016/s1876-1623(08)78001-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Elastin is a key mammalian extracellular matrix protein that is critical to the elasticity, compliance, and resilience of a range of tissues including the vasculature, skin, and lung. In addition to providing mechanical integrity to tissues, elastin also has critical functions in the regulation of cell behavior and may help to modulate the coagulation cascade. The high insolubility of elastin has limited its use to researchers, while soluble derivatives of elastin including elastin peptides, digested elastins, and tropoelastin have much broader applications. Recombinantly produced tropoelastin, the soluble monomer of elastin, has been shown to exhibit many of the properties intrinsic to the mature biopolymer. As such, recombinant human tropoelastin provides a versatile building block for the manufacture of biomaterials with potential for diverse applications in elastic tissues. One of the major benefits of soluble elastins is that they can be engineered into a range of physical forms. As a dominant example, soluble elastins including tropoelastin can form hydrogels when they are chemically cross-linked. These self-organized constructs swell when transferred from a saline to aqueous environment and are highly elastic; these tunable responses are dependent on the types of cross-linker and elastin used. Soluble elastins can also be drawn into fine fibers using electrospinning. The morphology of these fibers can be altered by modifying spinning parameters that include delivery flow rate and the starting protein concentration. The resulting fibers then accumulate to form porous scaffolds, and can be wound around mandrils to create conduits for vascular applications. Electrospun scaffolds retain the elasticity and cell-interactive properties inherent in the tropoelastin precursor. Additionally, soluble elastins serve as versatile biomaterial coatings, enhancing cellular interactions and modulating the blood compatibility of polymer- and metal-based prostheses. Soluble elastins, and in particular tropoelastin, have highly favorable intrinsic physical and cell-interactive properties, warranting their adaption through incorporation into biomaterials and modification of implantable devices. The multiple choices of ways to produce elastin-based biomaterials mean that they are well suited to the tailoring of elastic biomaterials and hybrid constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven G Wise
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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45
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Freeman L, Lomas A, Hodson N, Sherratt M, Mellody K, Weiss A, Shuttleworth A, Kielty C. Fibulin-5 interacts with fibrillin-1 molecules and microfibrils. Biochem J 2009; 388:1-5. [PMID: 15790312 PMCID: PMC1186687 DOI: 10.1042/bj20050368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Fibulin-5 plays an important role in elastic fibre formation in vivo. We have investigated the molecular interactions between fibulin-5 and components of fibrillin-rich microfibrils which form a template for elastin. Fibulin-5 interacted in a dose-dependent manner with a fibrillin-1 N-terminal sequence and with tropoelastin, but not with MAGP-1 (microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1) or decorin. Fibulin-5 did not inhibit interactions between fibrillin-1 N- and C-terminal fragments, or fibrillin-1 interactions with tropoelastin. Fibulin-5 may provide a link between tropoelastin and microfibrils in the pericellular space during elastic fibre assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyle J. Freeman
- *Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Amanda Lomas
- *Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Nigel Hodson
- *Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Michael J. Sherratt
- *Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Kieran T. Mellody
- *Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- †Molecular Biotechnology, School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences G08, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Adrian Shuttleworth
- *Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Cay M. Kielty
- *Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
- To whom correspondence should be addressed (email )
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Antonicelli F, Bellon G, Lorimier S, Hornebeck W. Role of the elastin receptor complex (S-Gal/Cath-A/Neu-1) in skin repair and regeneration. Wound Repair Regen 2009; 17:631-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-475x.2009.00525.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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47
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Choudhury R, McGovern A, Ridley C, Cain SA, Baldwin A, Wang MC, Guo C, Mironov A, Drymoussi Z, Trump D, Shuttleworth A, Baldock C, Kielty CM. Differential regulation of elastic fiber formation by fibulin-4 and -5. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:24553-67. [PMID: 19570982 PMCID: PMC2782046 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.019364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibulin-4 and -5 are extracellular glycoproteins with essential non-compensatory roles in elastic fiber assembly. We have determined how they interact with tropoelastin, lysyl oxidase, and fibrillin-1, thereby revealing how they differentially regulate assembly. Strong binding between fibulin-4 and lysyl oxidase enhanced the interaction of fibulin-4 with tropoelastin, forming ternary complexes that may direct elastin cross-linking. In contrast, fibulin-5 did not bind lysyl oxidase strongly but bound tropoelastin in terminal and central regions and could concurrently bind fibulin-4. Both fibulins differentially bound N-terminal fibrillin-1, which strongly inhibited their binding to lysyl oxidase and tropoelastin. Knockdown experiments revealed that fibulin-5 controlled elastin deposition on microfibrils, although fibulin-4 can also bind fibrillin-1. These experiments provide a molecular account of the distinct roles of fibulin-4 and -5 in elastic fiber assembly and how they act in concert to chaperone cross-linked elastin onto microfibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawshan Choudhury
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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Cain SA, Baldwin AK, Mahalingam Y, Raynal B, Jowitt TA, Shuttleworth CA, Couchman JR, Kielty CM. Heparan sulfate regulates fibrillin-1 N- and C-terminal interactions. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:27017-27. [PMID: 18669635 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m803373200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrillin-1 N- and C-terminal heparin binding sites have been characterized. An unprocessed monomeric N-terminal fragment (PF1) induced a very high heparin binding response, indicating heparin-mediated multimerization. Using PF1 deletion and short fragments, a heparin binding site was localized within the domain encoded by exon 7 after the first hybrid domain. Rodent embryonic fibroblasts adhered to PF1 and deletion fragments, and, when cells were plated on fibrillin-1 or fibronectin Arg-Gly-Asp cell-binding fragments, cells showed heparin-dependent spreading and focal contact formation in response to soluble PF1. Within domains encoded by exons 59-62 near the fibrillin-1 C terminus are novel conformation-dependent high affinity heparin and tropoelastin binding sites. Heparin disrupted tropoelastin binding but did not disrupt N- and C-terminal fibrillin-1 interactions. Thus, fibrillin-1 N-terminal interactions with heparin/heparan sulfate directly influence cell behavior, whereas C-terminal interactions with heparin/heparan sulfate regulate elastin deposition. These data highlight how heparin/heparan sulfate controls fibrillin-1 interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart A Cain
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
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49
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Tu Y, Weiss AS. Glycosaminoglycan-Mediated Coacervation of Tropoelastin Abolishes the Critical Concentration, Accelerates Coacervate Formation, and Facilitates Spherule Fusion: Implications for Tropoelastin Microassembly. Biomacromolecules 2008; 9:1739-44. [DOI: 10.1021/bm7013153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yidong Tu
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences G08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences G08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Exon 26-coded polypeptide: An isolated hydrophobic domain of human tropoelastin able to self-assemble in vitro. Matrix Biol 2008; 27:441-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2008.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2008] [Revised: 02/07/2008] [Accepted: 02/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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