1
|
Bandiera A, Colomina - Alfaro L, Sist P, Gomez d’Ayala G, Zuppardi F, Cerruti P, Catanzano O, Passamonti S, Urbani R. Physicochemical Characterization of a Biomimetic, Elastin-Inspired Polypeptide with Enhanced Thermoresponsive Properties and Improved Cell Adhesion. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:5277-5289. [PMID: 37890135 PMCID: PMC10647011 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Genetic engineering allows fine-tuning and controlling protein properties, thus exploiting the new derivatives to obtain novel materials and systems with improved capacity to actively interact with biological systems. The elastin-like polypeptides are tunable recombinant biopolymers that have proven to be ideal candidates for realizing bioactive interfaces that can interact with biological systems. They are characterized by a thermoresponsive behavior that is strictly related to their peculiar amino acid sequence. We describe here the rational design of a new biopolymer inspired by elastin and the comparison of its physicochemical properties with those of another already characterized member of the same protein class. To assess the cytocompatibility, the behavior of cells of different origins toward these components was evaluated. Our study shows that the biomimetic strategy adopted to design new elastin-based recombinant polypeptides represents a versatile and valuable tool for the development of protein-based materials with improved properties and advanced functionality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bandiera
- Department
of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Colomina - Alfaro
- 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
| | - Giovanna Gomez d’Ayala
- Institute
for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB-CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Federica Zuppardi
- Institute
for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB-CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Cerruti
- Institute
for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB-CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Ovidio Catanzano
- Institute
for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB-CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Sabina Passamonti
- Department
of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ranieri Urbani
- Department
of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dandurand J, Dantras E, Lacabanne C, Pepe A, Bochicchio B, Samouillan V. Thermal and dielectric fingerprints of self-assembling elastin peptides derived from exon30. AIMS BIOPHYSICS 2021. [DOI: 10.3934/biophy.2021018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
|
4
|
Saha S, Banskota S, Roberts S, Kirmani N, Chilkoti A. Engineering the Architecture of Elastin-Like Polypeptides: From Unimers to Hierarchical Self-Assembly. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2020; 3:1900164. [PMID: 34307837 PMCID: PMC8297442 DOI: 10.1002/adtp.201900164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Well-defined tunable nanostructures formed through the hierarchical self-assembly of peptide building blocks have drawn significant attention due to their potential applications in biomedical science. Artificial protein polymers derived from elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs), which are based on the repeating sequence of tropoelastin (the water-soluble precursor to elastin), provide a promising platform for creating nanostructures due to their biocompatibility, ease of synthesis, and customizable architecture. By designing the sequence and composition of ELPs at the gene level, their physicochemical properties can be controlled to a degree that is unmatched by synthetic polymers. A variety of ELP-based nanostructures are designed, inspired by the self-assembly of elastin and other proteins in biological systems. The choice of building blocks determines not only the physical properties of the nanostructures, but also their self-assembly into architectures ranging from spherical micelles to elongated nanofibers. This review focuses on the molecular determinants of ELP and ELP-hybrid self-assembly and formation of spherical, rod-like, worm-like, fibrillar, and vesicle architectures. A brief discussion of the potential biomedical applications of these supramolecular assemblies is also included.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soumen Saha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Samagya Banskota
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Stefan Roberts
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Nadia Kirmani
- Department of Biology, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bracalello A, Secchi V, Mastrantonio R, Pepe A, Persichini T, Iucci G, Bochicchio B, Battocchio C. Fibrillar Self-Assembly of a Chimeric Elastin-Resilin Inspired Engineered Polypeptide. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 9:E1613. [PMID: 31739482 PMCID: PMC6915571 DOI: 10.3390/nano9111613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In the field of tissue engineering, recombinant protein-based biomaterials made up of block polypeptides with tunable properties arising from the functionalities of the individual domains are appealing candidates for the construction of medical devices. In this work, we focused our attention on the preparation and structural characterization of nanofibers from a chimeric-polypeptide-containing resilin and elastin domain, designed on purpose to enhance its cell-binding ability by introducing a specific fibronectin-derived Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence. The polypeptide ability to self-assemble was investigated. The molecular and supramolecular structure was characterized by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), circular dichroism, state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation-induced techniques X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS). The attained complementary results allow us to assess as H-bonds influence the morphology of the aggregates obtained after the self-assembling of the chimeric polypeptide. Finally, a preliminary investigation of the potential cytotoxicity of the polypeptide was performed by culturing human fetal foreskin fibroblast (HFFF2) for its use as biomedical device.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Bracalello
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Valeria Secchi
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
| | - Roberta Mastrantonio
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
| | - Antonietta Pepe
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Tiziana Persichini
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
| | - Giovanna Iucci
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
| | - Brigida Bochicchio
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Chiara Battocchio
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
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]
|
7
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tarakanova A, Yeo GC, Baldock C, Weiss AS, Buehler MJ. Tropoelastin is a Flexible Molecule that Retains its Canonical Shape. Macromol Biosci 2018; 19:e1800250. [DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201800250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology 02139 Cambridge MA USA
| | - Giselle C. Yeo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell‐Matrix Research Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine School of Biological Sciences Manchester Academic Health Science Centre The University of Manchester M13 9PL Manchester UK
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
- Bosch Institute The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology 02139 Cambridge MA USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tatsubo D, Suyama K, Miyazaki M, Maeda I, Nose T. Stepwise Mechanism of Temperature-Dependent Coacervation of the Elastin-like Peptide Analogue Dimer, (C(WPGVG) 3) 2. Biochemistry 2018; 57:1582-1590. [PMID: 29388768 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Elastin-like peptides (ELPs) are distinct, repetitive, hydrophobic sequences, such as (VPGVG) n, that exhibit coacervation, the property of reversible, temperature-dependent self-association and dissociation. ELPs can be found in elastin and have been developed as new scaffold biomaterials. However, the detailed relationship between their amino acid sequences and coacervation properties remains obscure because of the structural flexibility of ELPs. In this study, we synthesized a novel, dimeric ELP analogue (H-C(WPGVG)3-NH2)2, henceforth abbreviated (CW3)2, and analyzed its self-assembly properties and structural factors as indicators of coacervation. Turbidity measurements showed that (CW3)2 demonstrated coacervation at a concentration much lower than that of its monomeric form and another ELP. In addition, the coacervate held water-soluble dye molecules. Thus, potent and distinct coacervation was obtained with a remarkably short sequence of (CW3)2. Furthermore, fluorescence microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and optical microscopy revealed that the coacervation of (CW3)2 was a stepwise process. The structural factors of (CW3)2 were analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations and circular dichroism spectroscopy. These measurements indicated that helical structures primarily consisting of proline and glycine became more disordered at high temperatures with concurrent, significant exposure of their hydrophobic surfaces. This extreme change in the hydrophobic surface contributes to the potent coacervation observed for (CW3)2. These results provide important insights into more efficient applications of ELPs and their analogues, as well as the coacervation mechanisms of ELP and elastin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Tatsubo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty and Graduate School of Science , Kyushu University , Fukuoka 819-0395 , Japan
| | - Keitaro Suyama
- Faculty of Arts and Science , Kyushu University , Fukuoka 819-0395 , Japan
| | - Masaya Miyazaki
- Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute , National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) , Tosu , Saga 841-0052 , Japan
| | - Iori Maeda
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics , Kyushu Institute of Technology , Iizuka , Fukuoka 820-8502 , Japan
| | - Takeru Nose
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty and Graduate School of Science , Kyushu University , Fukuoka 819-0395 , Japan.,Faculty of Arts and Science , Kyushu University , Fukuoka 819-0395 , Japan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Boraldi F, Moscarelli P, Bochicchio B, Pepe A, Salvi AM, Quaglino D. Heparan sulfates facilitate harmless amyloidogenic fibril formation interacting with elastin-like peptides. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3115. [PMID: 29449596 PMCID: PMC5814424 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21472-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Heparan sulfates (HSs) modulate tissue elasticity in physiopathological conditions by interacting with various matrix constituents as tropoelastin and elastin-derived peptides. HSs bind also to protein moieties accelerating amyloid formation and influencing cytotoxic properties of insoluble fibrils. Interestingly, amyloidogenic polypeptides, despite their supposed pathogenic role, have been recently explored as promising bio-nanomaterials due to their unique and interesting properties. Therefore, we investigated the interactions of HSs, obtained from different sources and exhibiting various degree of sulfation, with synthetic amyloidogenic elastin-like peptides (ELPs), also looking at the effects of these interactions on cell viability and cell behavior using in vitro cultured fibroblasts, as a prototype of mesenchymal cells known to modulate the soft connective tissue environment. Results demonstrate, for the first time, that HSs, with differences depending on their sulfation pattern and chain length, interact with ELPs accelerating aggregation kinetics and amyloid-like fibril formation as well as self-association. Furthermore, these fibrils do not negatively affect fibroblasts’ cell growth and parameters of redox balance, and influence cellular adhesion properties. Data provide information for a better understanding of the interactions altering the elastic component in aging and in pathologic conditions and may pave the way for the development of composite matrix-based biomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Boraldi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Pasquale Moscarelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Antonietta Pepe
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Anna M Salvi
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Daniela Quaglino
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tarakanova A, Huang W, Weiss AS, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ. Computational smart polymer design based on elastin protein mutability. Biomaterials 2017; 127:49-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
12
|
Nanofibers of Human Tropoelastin-inspired peptides: Structural characterization and biological properties. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2017; 77:927-934. [PMID: 28532113 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2017.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Regenerative medicine is taking great advantage from the use of biomaterials in the treatments of a wide range of diseases and injuries. Among other biomaterials, self-assembling peptides are appealing systems due to their ability to spontaneously form nanostructured hydrogels that can be directly injected into lesions. Indeed, self-assembling peptide scaffolds are expected to behave as biomimetic matrices able to surround cells, to promote specific interactions, and to control and modify cell behavior by mimicking the native environment as well. We selected three pentadecapeptides inspired by Human Tropoelastin, a natural protein of the extracellular matrix, expected to show high biocompatibility. Moreover, the here proposed self-assembling peptides (SAPs) are able to spontaneously aggregate in nanofibers in biological environment, as revealed by AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy). Peptides were characterized by XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) and IRRAS (Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy) both as lyophilized (not aggregated) and as aggregated (nanofibers) samples in order to investigate some potential differences in their chemical composition and intermolecular interactions, and to analyze the surface and interface of nanofibers. Finally, an accurate investigation of the biological properties of the SAPs and of their interaction with cells was performed by culturing for the first time human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) in presence of SAPs. The final aim of this work was to assess if Human Tropoelastin-inspired nanostructured fibers could exert a cytotoxic effect and to evaluate their biocompatibility, cellular adhesion and proliferation.
Collapse
|
13
|
Kim JD, Jung YJ, Woo CH, Choi YC, Choi JS, Cho YW. Thermo-responsive human α-elastin self-assembled nanoparticles for protein delivery. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2017; 149:122-129. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
14
|
Bochicchio B, Bracalello A, Pepe A. Characterization of a Crosslinked Elastomeric-Protein Inspired Polypeptide. Chirality 2016; 28:606-11. [PMID: 27403636 DOI: 10.1002/chir.22619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Materials inspired by natural proteins have a great appeal in tissue engineering for their biocompatibility and similarity to extracellular matrix (ECM). Chimeric polypeptides inspired by elastomeric proteins such as silk, elastin, and collagen are of outstanding interest in the field. A recombinant polypeptide constituted of three different blocks, each of them having sequences derived from elastin, resilin, and collagen proteins, was demonstrated to be a good candidate as biomaterial for its self-assembling characteristics and biocompatibility. Herein, taking advantage of the primary amine functionalities present in the linear polypeptide, we crosslinked it with 1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate (HMDI). The characterization of the obtained polypeptide was realized by CD spectroscopy, AFM, and SEM microscopies. The obtained results, although not conclusive, demonstrate that the crosslinked polypeptide gave rise to porous networks, thin nanowires, and films not observable for the linear polypeptide. Chirality 28:606-611, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Bochicchio
- Laboratory of Protein-Inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Angelo Bracalello
- Laboratory of Protein-Inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonietta Pepe
- Laboratory of Protein-Inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Herrera MG, Zamarreño F, Costabel M, Ritacco H, Hütten A, Sewald N, Dodero VI. Circular dichroism and electron microscopy studies in vitro of 33-mer gliadin peptide revealed secondary structure transition and supramolecular organization. Biopolymers 2016; 101:96-106. [PMID: 23703327 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Revised: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Gliadin, a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley, undergoes incomplete enzymatic degradation during digestion, producing an immunogenic 33-mer peptide, LQLQPF(PQPQLPY)3 PQPQPF. The special features of 33-mer that provoke a break in its tolerance leading to gliadin sensitivity and celiac disease remains elusive. Herein, it is reported that 33-mer gliadin peptide was not only able to fold into polyproline II secondary structure but also depending on concentration resulted in conformational transition and self-assembly under aqueous condition, pH 7.0. A 33-mer dimer is presented as one initial possible step in the self-assembling process obtained by partial electrostatics charge distribution calculation and molecular dynamics. In addition, electron microscopy experiments revealed supramolecular organization of 33-mer into colloidal nanospheres. In the presence of 1 mM sodium citrate, 1 mM sodium borate, 1 mM sodium phosphate buffer, 15 mM NaCl, the nanospheres were stabilized, whereas in water, a linear organization and formation of fibrils were observed. It is hypothesized that the self-assembling process could be the result of the combination of hydrophobic effect, intramolecular hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic complementarity due to 33-mer's high content of proline and glutamine amino acids and its calculated nonionic amphiphilic character. Although, performed in vitro, these experiments have revealed new features of the 33-mer gliadin peptide that could represent an important and unprecedented event in the early stage of 33-mer interaction with the gut mucosa prior to onset of inflammation. Moreover, these findings may open new perspectives for the understanding and treatment of gliadin intolerance disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María G Herrera
- Department of Chemistry, INQUISUR, National University of South, CONICET, Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
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: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bochicchio B, Laurita A, Heinz A, Schmelzer CEH, Pepe A. Investigating the role of (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline in elastin model peptides. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:4278-88. [PMID: 24127724 DOI: 10.1021/bm4011529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Post-translational modifications play a key role in defining the biological functions of proteins. Among them, the hydroxylation of proline producing the (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) is one of the most frequent modifications observed in vertebrates, being particularly abundant in the proteins of the extracellular matrix. In collagen, hydroxylation of proline plays a critical role, conferring the correct structure and mechanical strength to collagen fibers. In elastin, the exact role of this modification is not yet understood. Here we show that Hyp-containing elastin polypeptides have flexible molecular structures, analogously to proline-containing polypeptides. In turn, the self-assembly of the elastin peptides is significantly altered by the presence of Hyp, evidencing different supramolecular structures. Also the in vitro susceptibility to protease digestion is changed. These findings give a better insight into the elastic fiber formation and degradation processes in the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, our results could contribute in defining the subtle role of proline structural variants in the folding and self-assembly of elastin-inspired peptides, helping the rational design of elastin biomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Bochicchio
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata , Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
Elastin is an extracellular matrix protein responsible for the elastic properties of organs and tissues, the elastic properties being conferred to the protein by the presence of elastic fibers. In the perspective of producing tailor-made biomaterials of potential interest in nanotechnology and biotechnology fields, we report a study on an elastin-derived polypeptide. The choice of the polypeptide sequence encoded by exon 6 of Human Tropoelastin Gene is dictated by the peculiar sequence of the polypeptide. As a matter of fact, analogously to elastin, it is constituted of a hydrophobic region (GLGAFPAVTFPGALVPGG) and of a more hydrophilic region rich of lysine and alanine residues (VADAAAAYKAAKA). The role played by the two different regions in triggering the adoption of beta-turn and beta-sheet conformations is herein discussed and demonstrated to be crucial for the self-aggregation properties of the polypeptide.
Collapse
|
19
|
Le DHT, Hanamura R, Pham DH, Kato M, Tirrell DA, Okubo T, Sugawara-Narutaki A. Self-assembly of elastin-mimetic double hydrophobic polypeptides. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:1028-34. [PMID: 23495825 DOI: 10.1021/bm301887m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We have constructed a novel class of "double-hydrophobic" block polypeptides based on the hydrophobic domains found in native elastin, an extracellular matrix protein responsible for the elasticity and resilience of tissues. The block polypeptides comprise proline-rich poly(VPGXG) and glycine-rich poly(VGGVG), both of which dehydrate at higher temperature but form distinct secondary structures, β-turn and β-sheet respectively. In water at 45 °C, the block polypeptides initially assemble into nanoparticles rich in β-turn structures, which further connect into long (>10 μm), beaded nanofibers along with the increase in the β-sheet content. The nanofibers obtained are well-dispersed in water, and show thermoresponsive properties. Polypeptides comprising each block component assemble into different morphologies, showing that the conjugation of poly(VPGXG) and poly(VGGVG) plays a role for beaded fiber formation. These results may provide innovative ideas for designing peptide-based materials but also opportunities for developing novel materials useful for tissue engineering and drug delivery systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duc H T Le
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Miao M, Sitarz E, Bellingham CM, Won E, Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW. Sequence and domain arrangements influence mechanical properties of elastin-like polymeric elastomers. Biopolymers 2013; 99:392-407. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Revised: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Miao
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
| | - Eva Sitarz
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
| | - Catherine M. Bellingham
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
| | - Emily Won
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
| | - Lisa D. Muiznieks
- Molecular Structure and Function Program; Research Institute; The Hospital for Sick Children; 555 University Avenue; Toronto; ON; M5G1X8; Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Bochicchio B, Pepe A, Delaunay F, Lorusso M, Baud S, Dauchez M. Amyloidogenesis of proteolytic fragments of human elastin. RSC Adv 2013. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ra41893f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
|
22
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Muiznieks
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, The Hospital For Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Çelebi B, Cloutier M, Rabelo RB, Balloni R, Mantovani D, Bandiera A. Human elastin-based recombinant biopolymers improve mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Macromol Biosci 2012; 12:1546-54. [PMID: 23042756 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201200170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Revised: 07/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Elastin-based polypeptides are a class of smart biopolymers representing an important model in the design of biomaterials. The combination of biomimetic materials with cells that have great plasticity provides a promising strategy for the realization of highly engineered cell-based constructs for regenerative medicine and tissue repair applications. Two recombinant biopolymers inspired by human elastin are assessed as coating agents to prepare biomimetic surfaces for cell culture. These substrates are assayed for hBM MSC culture. The coated surfaces are also characterized with AFM to evaluate the topographical features of the deposited biopolymers. The results suggest that the elastin-derived biomimetic surfaces play a stimulatory role on osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betül Çelebi
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Laval University, Quebec City, G1V 0A6, PQ, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Bochicchio
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry, Department of Chemistry A. M. Tamburro, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy.
| | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Falabella P, Riviello L, Pascale M, Lelio ID, Tettamanti G, Grimaldi A, Iannone C, Monti M, Pucci P, Tamburro AM, Deeguileor M, Gigliotti S, Pennacchio F. Functional amyloids in insect immune response. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 42:203-211. [PMID: 22207151 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2011.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2011] [Accepted: 11/29/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The innate immune system of insects consists of humoural and cellular responses that provide protection against invading pathogens and parasites. Defence reactions against these latter include encapsulation by immune cells and targeted melanin deposition, which is usually restricted to the surface of the foreign invader, to prevent systemic damage. Here we show that a protein produced by haemocytes of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) larvae, belonging to XendoU family, generates amyloid fibrils, which accumulate in large cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and are released upon immune challenge, to form a layer coating non-self objects entering the haemocoel. This amyloid layer acts as a molecular scaffold that promotes localised melanin synthesis and the adhesion of immune cells around the non-self intruder during encapsulation response. Our results demonstrate a new functional role for these protein aggregates that are commonly associated with severe human diseases. We predict that insects will offer new powerful experimental systems for studying inducible amyloidogenesis, which will likely provide fresh perspectives for its prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Falabella
- Difesa e Biotecnologie Agro-Forestali, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università della Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giselle C Yeo
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
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.
Collapse
|
28
|
Sbrana F, Lorusso M, Canale C, Bochicchio B, Vassalli M. Effect of chemical cross-linking on the mechanical properties of elastomeric peptides studied by single molecule force spectroscopy. J Biomech 2011; 44:2118-22. [PMID: 21663916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2011] [Revised: 04/15/2011] [Accepted: 05/18/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical properties of animal tissues are mainly provided by the assembly of single elastomeric proteins into a complex network of filaments. Even if the overall elastic properties of such a reticulated structure depend on the mechanical characteristics of the constituents, it is not the only aspect to be considered. In addition, the aggregation mechanism has to be clarified to attain a full knowledge of the molecular basis of the elastic properties of natural nanostructured materials. This aim is even more crucial in the process of rational design of biomaterials with selected mechanical properties, in which not only the mechanics of single molecules but also of their assemblies has to be cared of. In this study, this aspect was approached by means of single molecule stretching experiments. In particular, the effect of chemical cross-linking on the mechanical properties of a naturally inspired elastomeric peptide was investigated. Accordingly, we observed that, in order to preserve the elastic properties of the single filament, the two strands of the dimer have to interact with each other. The results thus confirm that the influence of the aggregation process on the mechanical properties of a molecular assembly cannot be neglected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Sbrana
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Genova, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin L Y Cheung
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
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
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Tamburro AM, Lorusso M, Ibris N, Pepe A, Bochicchio B. Investigating by circular dichroism some amyloidogenic elastin-derived polypeptides. Chirality 2010; 22 Suppl 1:E56-66. [DOI: 10.1002/chir.20869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
|
32
|
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: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Muiznieks
- Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Palmier MO, Fulcher YG, Bhaskaran R, Duong VQ, Fields GB, Van Doren SR. NMR and bioinformatics discovery of exosites that tune metalloelastase specificity for solubilized elastin and collagen triple helices. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:30918-30. [PMID: 20663866 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.136903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The catalytic domain of metalloelastase (matrix metalloproteinase-12 or MMP-12) is unique among MMPs in exerting high proteolytic activity upon fibrils that resist hydrolysis, especially elastin from lungs afflicted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or arteries with aneurysms. How does the MMP-12 catalytic domain achieve this specificity? NMR interface mapping suggests that α-elastin species cover the primed subsites, a strip across the β-sheet from β-strand IV to the II-III loop, and a broad bowl from helix A to helix C. The many contacts may account for the comparatively high affinity, as well as embedding of MMP-12 in damaged elastin fibrils in vivo. We developed a strategy called BINDSIght, for bioinformatics and NMR discovery of specificity of interactions, to evaluate MMP-12 specificity without a structure of a complex. BINDSIght integration of the interface mapping with other ambiguous information from sequences guided choice mutations in binding regions nearer the active site. Single substitutions at each of ten locations impair specific activity toward solubilized elastin. Five of them impair release of peptides from intact elastin fibrils. Eight lesions also impair specific activity toward triple helices from collagen IV or V. Eight sites map to the "primed" side in the III-IV, V-B, and S1' specificity loops. Two map to the "unprimed" side in the IV-V and B-C loops. The ten key residues circumscribe the catalytic cleft, form an exosite, and are distinctive features available for targeting by new diagnostics or therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark O Palmier
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Cirulis JT, Keeley FW. Kinetics and Morphology of Self-Assembly of an Elastin-like Polypeptide Based on the Alternating Domain Arrangement of Human Tropoelastin. Biochemistry 2010; 49:5726-33. [DOI: 10.1021/bi100468v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Judith T. Cirulis
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, and Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G1X8
| | - Fred W. Keeley
- Molecular Structure and Function Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, and Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G1X8
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Rodríguez-Cabello JC, Martín L, Alonso M, Arias FJ, Testera AM. “Recombinamers” as advanced materials for the post-oil age. POLYMER 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2009.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
36
|
Miao M, Stahl RJ, Petersen LF, Reintsch WE, Davis EC, Keeley FW. Characterization of an unusual tropoelastin with truncated C-terminus in the frog. Matrix Biol 2009; 28:432-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2009.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2009] [Revised: 07/03/2009] [Accepted: 07/17/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
37
|
Dyksterhuis LB, Carter EA, Mithieux SM, Weiss AS. Tropoelastin as a thermodynamically unfolded premolten globule protein: The effect of trimethylamine N-oxide on structure and coacervation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2009; 487:79-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2009.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2009] [Revised: 05/29/2009] [Accepted: 06/02/2009] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
|
38
|
Tamburro AM. A never-ending love story with elastin: a scientific autobiography. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2009; 4:469-87. [PMID: 19505248 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.09.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The author describes, in a quite unconventional way, the most important results achieved in the last 50 years in the field of elastin structure–elasticity relationships, beginning with the first invaluable findings of Partridge on desmosines and isodesmosines until the most recent theories on elastomeric proteins. The author also relates a scientific autobiography characterized by his greatest passion, elastin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio M Tamburro
- University of Basilicata, Department of Chemistry, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Bochicchio B, Lorusso M, Pepe A, Tamburro AM. On enhancers and inhibitors of elastin-derived amyloidogenesis. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2009; 4:31-46. [DOI: 10.2217/17435889.4.1.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: The main aim of this study is to better understand the self-aggregation mechanism of amyloid-like elastin-derived fibers in order to design and produce new powerful drugs that will inhibit the onset of ‘amyloidosis’. Materials & methods: Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Congo Red birefringence assay and Thioflavin T fluorescence measurements were used to demonstrate the amyloid-like behavior of some fragments of elastin protein (exon 30 [EX30] and exon 28 [EX28]). Turbidimetry on apparent absorbance technique was used to investigate the effect either of enhancers or of inhibitors on the amyloidogenic elastin-like peptides. Circular-dichroism spectroscopy was used to study the secondary structures of the peptides. Results & discussion: We used Congo Red birefringence assay, Thioflavin T fluorescence measurements and AFM measurements that are used commonly to demonstrate the formation of amyloids. The elastin fibrillogenesis is amyloid-like. Then, the elastin amyloidogenesis is inhibited by particular pentapeptides. Conclusions: We have reported herein that the fibrillogenesis of elastin-derived EX28 and EX30 polypeptides is facilitated significantly by the effect of sodium taurocholate bile salt and is inhibited by a classical inhibitor of Aβ-amyloid peptide, such as KLVFF, as well as by novel inhibitors, designed by us on the basis of some elastin sequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Bochicchio
- University of Basilicata, Department of Chemistry, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Marina Lorusso
- University of Basilicata, Department of Chemistry, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonietta Pepe
- University of Basilicata, Department of Chemistry, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Mario Tamburro
- University of Basilicata, Department of Chemistry, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Bochicchio B, Pepe A, Tamburro AM. Investigating by CD the molecular mechanism of elasticity of elastomeric proteins. Chirality 2008; 20:985-94. [DOI: 10.1002/chir.20541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
|
41
|
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]
|
42
|
Bochicchio B, Pepe A, Flamia R, Lorusso M, Tamburro AM. Investigating the Amyloidogenic Nanostructured Sequences of Elastin: Sequence Encoded by Exon 28 of Human Tropoelastin Gene. Biomacromolecules 2007; 8:3478-86. [DOI: 10.1021/bm700636a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
43
|
Pepe A, Bochicchio B, Tamburro AM. Supramolecular organization of elastin and elastin-related nanostructured biopolymers. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2007; 2:203-18. [PMID: 17716121 DOI: 10.2217/17435889.2.2.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The ultrastructure of elastin has been extensively analyzed by different methodologies. Starting from the first descriptions, where elastin was depicted as an amorphous structure, more complex and, in some cases, varied morphologies were revealed. The supramolecular structures found for elastin have been compared with those found for other elastin-related polypeptides, such as alpha-elastin and tropoelastin, and very similar features emerged. This review will deal with the supramolecular organization exhibited by many elastin-related compounds, starting from elastin, going through polypeptides constituted by different domains of tropoelastin, up to polymers containing repetitive sequences of elastin. In particular, recent developments on biopolymers of general type poly(Val-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Gly) and poly(Xaa-Gly-Gly-Zaa-Gly) (Xaa, Zaa = Val, Leu, Lys, Glu, Orn) obtained either by chemical synthesis or recombinant DNA techniques will be discussed in detail. The general aim is to describe the supramolecular features useful for the identification of elastin-inspired nanostructured biopolymers for developing highly functional and biocompatible vascular grafts as well as scaffolds for tissue regeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Pepe
- Università della Basilicata, Department of Chemistry, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Bochicchio B, Pepe A, Tamburro AM. Elastic fibers and amyloid deposition in vascular tissue. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2007. [DOI: 10.2217/14796708.2.5.523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are associated with a large number of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s dementia and others. Evidence links Alzheimer’s dementia with vascular diseases and only few data connect amyloids and atherosclerosis and aging via deposits in the aortic intima. Recent results demonstrate that some elastin polypeptide sequences are also able to produce amyloid fibers. This finding could have useful implications in the study of amyloids in cardiovascular tissue whose main constituent is elastin. In this review, we have also outlined the main characterizing features regarding the structure of amyloid fibrils. Finally, we describe, as a future perspective, the design of proper inhibitors of amyloid deposition in vascular walls as potential therapeutic drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Bochicchio
- University of Basilicata, Department of Chemistry, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonietta Pepe
- University of Basilicata, Department of Chemistry, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonio M Tamburro
- University of Basilicata, Department of Chemistry, Via N. Sauro 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Kielty CM, Stephan S, Sherratt MJ, Williamson M, Shuttleworth CA. Applying elastic fibre biology in vascular tissue engineering. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2007; 362:1293-312. [PMID: 17588872 PMCID: PMC2440413 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2007.2134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
For the treatment of vascular disease, the major cause of death in Western society, there is an urgent need for tissue-engineered, biocompatible, small calibre artery substitutes that restore biological function. Vascular tissue engineering of such grafts involves the development of compliant synthetic or biomaterial scaffolds that incorporate vascular cells and extracellular matrix. Elastic fibres are major structural elements of arterial walls that can enhance vascular graft design and patency. In blood vessels, they endow vessels with the critical property of elastic recoil. They also influence vascular cell behaviour through direct interactions and by regulating growth factor activation. This review addresses physiological elastic fibre assembly and contributions to vessel structure and function, and how elastic fibre biology is now being exploited in small diameter vascular graft design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cay M Kielty
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Michael Smith Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Ostuni A, Bochicchio B, Armentano MF, Bisaccia F, Tamburro AM. Molecular and supramolecular structural studies on human tropoelastin sequences. Biophys J 2007; 93:3640-51. [PMID: 17693470 PMCID: PMC2072060 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.107.110809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the unusual properties of elastin is its ability to coacervate, which has been proposed to play an important role in the alignment of monomeric elastin for cross-linking into the polymeric elastin matrix. The temperature at which this transition takes place depends on several factors including protein concentration, ionic strength, and pH. Previously, polypeptide sequences encoded by different exons of the human tropoelastin gene have been analyzed for their ability to coacervate and to self-assemble. Few of them were indeed able to coacervate and only one, that encoded by exon 30 (EX30), gave amyloid fibers. In this article, we report on two chemically synthesized peptides-a decapeptide and an octadecapeptide-whose sequences are contained in the longer EX30 peptide and on a polypeptide (EX1-7) of 125 amino-acid residues corresponding to the sequence coded by the exons 1-7 and on a polypeptide (EX2-7) of 99 amino-acid residues encoded by exons 2-7 of human tropoelastin obtained by recombinant DNA techniques. Molecular and supramolecular structural characterization of these peptides showed that a minimum sequence of approximately 20 amino acids is needed to form amyloid fibers in the exon 30-derived peptides. The N-terminal region of mature tropoelastin (EX2-7) gives rise to a coacervate and forms elastinlike fibers, whereas the polypeptide sequence containing the signal peptide (EX1-7) forms mainly amyloid fibers. Circular dichroism spectra show that beta-structure is ubiquitous in all the sequences studied, suggesting that the presence of a beta-structure is a necessary, although not sufficient, requirement for the appearance of amyloid fibers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Ostuni
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
We investigated the flexibility of full-length tropoelastin in solution by using far- and near-ultraviolet circular dichroism (UV CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy to probe for structural flexibility and residue mobility within secondary and tertiary features of the monomer. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed the presence of exposed hydrophobicity through the binding of the hydrophobic probe 4,4'-dianilino-1,1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonate (bis-ANS), which demonstrates that hydrophobic regions form clusters and are not confined to a molecular core. Near-UV CD indicated substantial mobility of aromatic residues. Structural prediction programs (PONDR, DisEMBL, and Globplot version 2.0) estimated 75 +/- 2% disorder in the tertiary structure of tropoelastin on the basis of primary sequence information. A single-site substitution of Trp for Gln (Q513W) at the tropoelastin domain 25-26 interface facilitated fluorescence spectroscopy for revealing that this region is exposed to solvent. Polarization anisotropy demonstrated substantial flexibility of W513 and little change upon denaturation of the monomer with guanidine hydrochloride. Comparable movement was found for native sequence aromatic residues in the presence of glycosaminoglycans and trifluoroethanol. These data prove the intrinsic flexibility of specific residues and adjacent sequences in any native conformation(s) they may take. This study is the first characterization of the level of mobility in defined regions of the full-length tropoelastin monomer and provides direct evidence for regions of flexible structure in tropoelastin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Muiznieks
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia 2006
| | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Tamburro AM, Pepe A, Bochicchio B. Localizing alpha-helices in human tropoelastin: assembly of the elastin "puzzle". Biochemistry 2006; 45:9518-30. [PMID: 16878986 DOI: 10.1021/bi060289i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Polyalanine cross-linking domains encoded by exons 6, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 of human tropoelastin were synthesized, and their conformations were studied in different solutions and at different temperatures by CD and (1)H NMR. The results demonstrated the presence of poly-proline II helix (PPII) in aqueous solvent and of alpha-helical conformation in TFE. The (1)H NMR results allowed the precise localization of the helices along the peptide sequence. These data were further refined by prediction algorithms in order to take into account the reduced helix stability at the end of the peptides. Furthermore, the influence of flanking residues was checked by synthesizing and by determining the structure of a peptide spanning exon 31 coded domain and the first five residues of the following exon 32 coded domain. These studies, together with those previously published [Tamburro, A. M., Bochicchio, B., and Pepe, A. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 13147-62], are used to propose a coherent recomposition of the elastin pieces (domains) in order to give an acceptable solution to the elastin structure-function problem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mario Tamburro
- Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi della Basilicata,Via N. Sauro, 85, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Miao M, Cirulis JT, Lee S, Keeley FW. Structural determinants of cross-linking and hydrophobic domains for self-assembly of elastin-like polypeptides. Biochemistry 2006; 44:14367-75. [PMID: 16245953 DOI: 10.1021/bi0510173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Elastin is a major structural protein found in large blood vessels, lung, ligaments, and skin, imparting the physical properties of extensibility and elastic recoil to these tissues. To achieve the required structural durability of the elastic matrix, the elastin monomer, tropoelastin, undergoes ordered assembly into a covalently cross-linked, fibrillar polymeric structure. Human tropoelastin consists of 34 exons coding for alternating hydrophobic and cross-linking domains. Using a series of well-defined recombinant polypeptides based on human elastin sequences mimicking native elastin, we have previously investigated the role of sequence and context of hydrophobic domains in elastin self-assembly. Here, we demonstrate that the structure of both cross-linking and hydrophobic domains have significant effects on the assembly of these polypeptides. Removing a putative flexible hinge region in the center of a cross-linking domain substantially increased the alpha-helical content and strongly promoted their self-aggregation. However, while trifluoroethanol (TFE) promoted and urea inhibited self-assembly of these polypeptides, these effects were not predominantly due to altered alpha-helicity of the polypeptides. Our results suggest that, while increased alpha helicity also favors this process, the major effect of TFE to promote organized self-assembly of elastin-like polypeptides is likely related to direct effects of this cosolvent on hydrophobic domains. Such simple elastin polypeptide models can provide an important tool for understanding the relationships between sequence, structure, and polymeric assembly of elastin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Miao
- Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Gheduzzi D, Guerra D, Bochicchio B, Pepe A, Tamburro AM, Quaglino D, Mithieux S, Weiss AS, Pasquali Ronchetti I. Heparan sulphate interacts with tropoelastin, with some tropoelastin peptides and is present in human dermis elastic fibers. Matrix Biol 2005; 24:15-25. [PMID: 15748998 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2004.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2004] [Revised: 10/14/2004] [Accepted: 12/10/2004] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A number of reports point to the presence of proteoglycans and/or glycosaminoglycans within elastic fibers in normal and in pathological conditions. We present data that heparan sulphate (HS)-containing proteoglycans are associated with normal elastic fibers in human dermis and that isolated HS chains interact in vitro with recombinant tropoelastin and with peptides encoded by distinct exons of the human tropoelastin gene (EDPs). By immunocytochemistry, HS chains were identified as associated with the amorphous elastin component in the human dermis and remained associated with the residual elastin in the partially degenerated fibers of old subjects. HS appeared particularly concentrated in the mineralization front of elastic fibers in the dermis of patients affected by pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). In in vitro experiments, HS induced substantial changes in the coacervation temperature and in the aggregation properties of recombinant tropoelastin and of synthetic peptides (EDPs) corresponding to sequences encoded by exons 18, 20, 24 and 30 of the human tropoelastin gene. In particular, HS modified the coacervation temperature and favoured the aggregation into ordered structures of tropoelastin molecules and of EDPs 18, 20 and 24, but not of EDP30. These data strongly indicate that HS-elastin interactions may play a role in tissue elastin fibrogenesis as well as modulating elastin stability with time and in diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dealba Gheduzzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41100-Modena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|