Characterization of a structural glycoprotein from bovine ligamentum nuchae exhibiting dual amine oxidase activity

Codistribution analysis of elastin and related fibrillar proteins in early vertebrate development

Elastin is an extracellular matrix protein found in adult and neonatal vasculature, lung, skin and connective tissue. It is secreted as tropoelastin, a soluble protein that is cross-linked in the tissue space to form an insoluble elastin matrix. Cross-linked elastin can be found in association with several microfibril-associated proteins including fibrillin-1, fibrillin-2 and fibulin-1 suggesting that these proteins contribute to elastic fiber assembly, structure or function. To date, the earliest reported elastin expression was in the conotruncal region of the developing avian heart at 3.5 days of gestation. Here we report that elastin expression begins at significantly earlier developmental stages. Using a novel immunolabeling method, the deposition of elastin, fibrillin-1 and -2 and fibulin-1 was analyzed in avian embryos at several time points during the first 2 days of development. Elastin was found at the midline associated with axial structures such as the notochord and somites at 23 h of development. Fibrillin-1 and -2 and fibulin-1 were also expressed at the embryonic midline at this stage with fibrillin-1 and fibulin-1 showing a high degree of colocalization with elastin in fibers surrounding midline structures. The expression of these genes was confirmed by conventional immunoblotting and mRNA detection methods. Our results demonstrate that elastin polypeptide deposition occurs much earlier than was previously appreciated. Furthermore, the results suggest that elastin deposition at the early embryonic midline is accompanied by the deposition and organization of a number of extracellular matrix polypeptides. These filamentous extracellular matrix structures may act to transduce or otherwise stabilize dynamic forces generated during embryogenesis.

Physicochemical properties of arterial elastin and its associated glycoproteins

Microfibrillar glycoproteins are a significant component of vascular elastic tissue, but little is known about their contribution to vascular physiology and pathology. We have investigated some physicochemical properties of the glycoproteins that may be pertinent to these roles. Because of the difficulty in isolating intact glycoproteins in a form and quantity suitable for physicochemical examination, we based our analysis on a comparison of the properties of porcine thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery extracted with GuHCl and collagenase (preparation GC) and after further treatment with dithioerythritol to remove glycoproteins (preparation GC/DTE). Amino acid analysis showed that GC/DTE had the amino acid composition of pure elastin while GC contained a higher proportion of polar amino acids, particularly in the aortic preparation. GC stained with alcian blue, particularly in the intimal region, but GC/DTE did not. GC had a higher water content and a slower viscoelastic response and the circumferential elastic modulus was approximately 50% lower (whether expressed in terms of sample weight or elastin content). Clearly, therefore, the microfibrils do not stiffen the network and may prevent the alignment of elastin fibers in the circumferential direction. Their effect on hydration may arise either because they impose mechanical constraints on the geometry of the network or because they modify the inter- and intramolecular hydrophobic or electrostatic interactions that influence the tissue organization and hydration. Molecular probe measurements of the intrafibrillar pore structure using radiolabeled and fluorescent probes showed that removal of the microfibrils caused a slight decrease in the extrafibrillar water space and a larger decrease in the intrafibrillar water space. Sucrose, a small probe molecule, was able to penetrate most of the intrafibrillar water space when microfibrils were present but was virtually excluded when they were not. Potentiometric titration and radiotracer assays of ion binding both showed that the microfibrils contribute a considerable negative charge (-9 mumoles/g wet tissue in the aortic preparation and -16 mumoles/g wet weight in the pulmonary artery) and increase calcium binding by approximately 30%.

Molecular cloning of the microfibrillar protein MFAP3 and assignment of the gene to human chromosome 5q32-q33.2

Microfibrils having a diameter of 10-12 nm, found either in association with elastin or independently, are an important component of the extracellular matrix of many tissues, but characterization of these microfibrils is incomplete. To further our understanding of the gene structure of proteins composing the microfibrils and to identify their chromosomal location, we have cloned and characterized another microfibril protein, designated microfibril-associated protein-3 (MFAP3). The human gene encoding MFAP3 has a very simple structure, containing only two translated exons encoding a protein of 362 amino acids. Monospecific antibodies prepared against the recombinantly expressed protein reacted with the microfibrils found in ocular zonules. MFAP3 does not appear to share homology with any other known protein. The gene was found to be located on chromosome 5q32-q33.2, near the locus 5q21-q31 reported for the fibrillin gene, FBN2, which has been linked to congenital contractural arachnodactyly. MFAP3 is a candidate gene for heritable diseases affecting microfibrils.

Primary structure and developmental expression of Fbn-1, the mouse fibrillin gene

Previous studies have reported > 10 kilobases of human fibrillin-1 cDNA sequence, but a consensus regarding the 5' end of the transcript remains to be worked out. One approach to developing a clear consensus would be to search for regions of evolutionary conservation in transcripts from a related species such as mouse. As reported here, the mouse fibrillin-1 transcript encodes a highly conserved polypeptide of 2,871 amino acids. The upstream sequence that flanks the ATG is considerably less well conserved, however. Indeed, the ATG codon (which occurs in the context of a Kozak consensus sequence and is located just upstream of a consensus signal peptide) signals the point where human and mouse fibrillin-1 sequences cease to be nearly identical. Together, these results are consistent with previous efforts by Pereira et al. (Pereira, L., D'Alessio, M., Ramirez, F., Lynch, J. R., Sykes, B., Pangilinan, T., and Bonadio, J. (1993) Human Mol. Genet. 2, 961-968) to identify the human fibrillin-1 translational start site. Sequences immediately upstream of the ATG are GC-rich and devoid of TATA and CCAAT boxes, which suggests that the mouse fibrillin-1 gene will be broadly expressed. A survey of expression in mouse embryo tissues is consistent with this hypothesis and suggests two novel functions for fibrillin-associated microfibrils in non-elastic connective tissues.

The molecular basis of Marfan syndrome

The Marfan syndrome is an inherited, autosomal dominant disorder that affects the skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular systems. Recent biochemical and genetic studies have demonstrated that this deadly genetic disorder arises from defects in the connective tissue protein fibrillin. Fibrillin is a component of microfibrils, structures found in the extracellular matrices of most tissues, including those affected in Marfan patients. The appearance of microfibrils in the matrix produced by Marfan patient fibroblasts is different from that of normal cells. Genetic linkage between the fibrillin gene and the Marfan phenotype has been established and the gene mapped to the same chromosomal position as the disease locus. In several instances, the disease has been associated with mutations in the fibrillin gene, confirming that defects in fibrillin cause the Marfan syndrome.

Mechanisms of interaction between human skin fibroblasts and elastin: differences between elastin fibres and derived peptides

3H-Labelled kappa-elastin peptides (kE:75 kDa molecular weight) were shown to bind to confluent human skin fibroblast (HSF) cultures in a time-dependent and saturable manner. Scatchard analysis indicated the presence of high affinity binding sites with kD = 2.7 x 10(-10) M and 19,000 sites per cell. Binding of kE to its receptor on HSF accelerates and intensifies the adhesion of insoluble elastin fibres (iE) to confluent HSF. Optimal effect was attained for a kE concentration of 0.3 x 10(-9) M close to kD. This stimulatory effect of kE on the binding of iE to HSF could be inhibited by neomycin, retinal and pertussis toxin, substances which act at different levels of the transduction mechanism following the activation of the receptor and the subsequent triggering of cell biological events (chemotaxis, modification of calcium fluxes). The stimulation of iE adhesion to HSF induced by kE as well as kE binding to the cells could be inhibited by lactose and laminin but not by Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser(RGDS) peptides. This indicates that the elastin peptide receptor on HSF possesses lectin-like properties and shares homology with the laminin receptor as also shown for other cell types. None of the substances tested, that is inhibitors of the transduction mechanism, lactose, laminin and Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser(RGDS) peptides were shown to interfere significantly with the binding of iE (in the absence of added kE) to confluent HSF. The proteins adhering strongly to elastin fibres were isolated by a sequential extraction procedure and the final hydrochloride guanidinium-DTT extract was analysed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions, Western blots using specific antibodies against several connective tissue proteins and affinity for [3H]-kE following nitrocellulose electro-transfer of proteins. Fibronectin, vitronectin, tropoelastin(s), and a 120 kDa cysteine rich glycoprotein previously designated as elastonectin were identified. Among these proteins, [3H]-kE was found to bind exclusively to a 65 kDa protein that could be eluted selectively from elastin fibres with a neutral buffer containing 100 mM lactose. Therefore the elastin peptide receptor on human skin fibroblasts shares properties with the elastin receptor characterized from other cell types. Conformational differences between elastin peptides and elastin fibres could explain the differences in the mechanisms of interactions between elastin fibres and elastin peptides with HSF in culture. The stimulatory effect of elastin-derived peptides on the adhesion of elastin fibres to HSF could have implications in the oriented biosynthesis of elastin fibres.

Correlations between age and rat dermis modifications. Ultrastructural-morphometric evaluations and lysyl oxidase activity

The extracellular matrix is a complex, integrated macromolecular system which plays a crucial role in the economy of each organ. In this study we focused our attention on the correlations between age and rat skin dermis. The latter was chosen as a model of the connective tissue, and was analyzed by means of electron microscopy and by measurement of the activity of lysyl oxidase, the enzyme involved in collagen and elastin crosslink formation. Ultrastructural and morphometric evaluations associated to body weight growth, showed a progressive increase in the amounts of extracellular components and a progressive reduction in the cell density. Skin from adult animals appeared characterized by a well organized matrix; by contrast, in old rats, we observed several degenerative features such as the disorganization of collagen bundles, the vacuolization of elastic fibers, and the atrophy of the mesenchimal cells. Morphometric evaluations in old animals showed a slight but significant reduction in the percentage of the total collagen measured, a fair stability in the area occupied by the elastin fibers, and an increase of the apparently non-structured matrix. The fact that lysyl oxidase activity was diminished in old rats does not corroborate the observation by several authors that increased collagen insolubility is a consequence of higher intra- and intermolecular crosslinking. This would suggest that other chemical modifications, such as crosslink oxidation or non enzymatic glycosylation, might be involved during the aging of connective tissue. The qualitative and quantitative modifications observed at all ages illustrate the correlation between connective tissue modifications and structural and/or functional properties of the skin.

Development of immunoreagents to ciliary zonules that react with protein components of elastic fiber microfibrils and with elastin-producing cells

We describe the generation of a monoclonal antibody library to ocular zonule components and the characterization of three monoclonal antibodies: 1) one specific for microfibrillar associated glycoprotein (MAGP), a component of both ocular zonules and microfibrils of elastin fibers, 2) an antibody to an as yet unidentified 70,000 dalton antigen that is present in abundance in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of elastin-producing cells, and 3) an antibody reacting with the 67000 dalton subunit of the elastin receptor. The presence of antigenic determinants common to the ocular zonule and elastic fiber microfibrils suggests that zonules, which can be obtained in relatively pure form, can provide a valuable resource for characterizing proteins common to both microfibrillar structures.

Identification of extractable proteins from the bovine ocular zonule: major zonular antigens of 32kD and 250kD

Using Western immunoblotting, the extractable proteins of the bovine zonular fibers were examined for reactivity with two zonular antisera known to have strong affinity for zonular fibers in tissues, in order to identify the antigenic components. The extracts were also tested with antisera to several matrix proteins that have been reported to be associated with zonular fibers. Proteins reactive with antisera to bovine serum albumin, serum immunoglobulins and fibronectin were present. No bands reactive with antisera to a-elastin, prealbumin, amyloid P component, collagen VI, lysyl oxidase or monoclonal antibody to fibrillin were demonstrated. The major nonserum protein band identified by both antisera was a 32kD polypeptide. An equally strong 250kD polypeptide was shown by the antiserum to guanidine-dithiothreitol extracted zonular fibers. Both of these proteins were PAS-positive and were demonstrated also by the antisera in extracts of bovine elastic neck ligament. Whether the two glycoproteins are related to each other, with the higher molecular weight protein either a precursor or aggregate form, is not yet clear. They appear to bear a close relationship to the elusive core microfibrillar protein.

Serum lysyl oxidase activity in patients with various liver diseases

Serum lysyl oxidase activity was examined in patients with various liver diseases. The activity of the enzyme was detected mainly in the serum fraction of the supernatant 80% saturated with (NH4)2SO4, and its molecular weight was estimated to be about 30,000 by Sephadex G-150 column filtration. Mean serum lysyl oxidase activity in 18 healthy controls was 129 +/- 50 (+/- SEM) cpm/ml and was significantly increased in patients with acute hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease and primary biliary cirrhosis, but not in those with chronic inactive hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. Serum lysyl oxidase activity was not correlated with the histological grade of hepatic fibrosis, but appeared to reflect active hepatic fibrogenesis in patients with liver diseases.

Immunolocalization of a 35K structural glycoprotein to elastin-associated microfibrils

In this study, a rabbit antiserum directed against a 35K glycoprotein (35K-GP), extracted from connective tissue, was used to examine the localisation of this antigen within foetal bovine ligamentum nuchae at stages of development preceding (4th month) and coinciding with (7th month) active elastin biosynthesis. In these tissues the antibody, detected by a colloidal gold conjugate technique, localised specifically to 11-nm fibrils, identified as the microfibrillar component, present both in the form of independent bundles and in association with elastin in the developing elastic fibres. No other connective tissue component was recognised by the antibodies which had been purified by affinity chromatography. The ability of the antibodies to bind to the microfibrils appeared to be dependent on embedding in LR White resin, as colloidal gold binding was greatly reduced in tissue embedded in epoxy resin. These results are discussed with respect to the role that 35K-GP may play in the morphogenesis of the elastic fibre.

Comparison of lysyl oxidase from bovine lung and aorta

A prior report had concluded that bovine lung lysyl oxidase displayed an unusual resistance to inhibition by beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) in contrast to the enzyme isolated from other connective tissues. Therefore, lysyl oxidase was purified from fetal bovine lung and from aorta of young calves by parallel procedures, and key chromatographic and catalytic properties of these enzymes were directly compared. The enzymes prepared from both tissues each demonstrated the same multiplicity of enzyme species which resolve on DEAE-cellulose and otherwise demonstrated the same chromatographic behavior on gel exclusion media and on collagen-Sepharose and Cibacron blue-Sepharose columns. The activities of the unresolved but partially purified enzyme species of lung and of aortic lysyl oxidase were each fully inhibitable by approximately the same low (mu molar) concentrations of BAPN. Thus, the enzymes of both tissues were found to be very similar to each other by several criteria.

Morphogenesis of the elastic fiber: an immunoelectronmicroscopy investigation

In this study a rabbit antiserum against human aortic elastin, which showed a high degree of species specificity in ELISA tests, was used to examine elastin fiber formation in the human fetal aorta between the ages of 14 and 23 weeks. Elastin was first detected by the antibody in the matrix of the 14-week-old specimen in association with the microfibrillar component. At this stage of development, the sections did not reveal structures morphologically identifiable as elastin. By the 17th week, discrete loci of elastin deposition were observed together with well-defined elastin fibrils. Only by the 23rd week did the aorta show the characteristic layering of elastic fibrils separating the myoblasts of the tunica media. In the latter specimen, the newly synthesized uncrosslinked elastin appeared to be unevenly distributed on the surface of elastin fibrils where it formed continuous strips of variable width arranged mostly in the form of spirals. This observation is discussed with respect to the proposals that the morphogenesis of elastic tissue is a dynamic process involving a close interrelationship between elastic fibrils and elastogenic cells and the morphogenetic movement of elastogenic cells plays an important role not only in the growth of elastic fibrils but also in the ultrastructural organization of the tissue.

Characterization of a type VI collagen-related Mr-140 000 protein from cutis-laxa fibroblasts in culture

The precise biochemical defects in connective-tissue metabolism that are responsible for the laxity of skin seen in the syndrome of cutis laxa are largely unknown. We have studied fibroblasts cultured from skin explants of a 2-year-old male with the syndrome. Electron-microscopic examination of this skin revealed decreased amounts of amorphous elastin and an increase in elastin-associated microfibrils. Although the cultured fibroblasts were similar to control skin fibroblasts in morphology, growth rate and total protein synthesis, there was a 4-6-fold increase in accumulation of a collagenous protein of Mr 140 000 in both the culture medium and in the cell layer. This protein was structurally distinct from collagen types I, III, IV, V and VIII. It was found to be related to a cell-surface-associated glycoprotein, GP140, by both antigenic cross-reactivity and peptide mapping. Our data support observations that GP140 is a precursor of at least one form of pepsin-extracted type VI collagen.

A collagenous glycoprotein found in dissociative extracts of foetal bovine nuchal ligament. Evidence for a relationship with type VI collagen

A collagenous glycoprotein (Mr 140000) was isolated from dissociative extracts of foetal bovine nuchal ligament and purified by a combination of ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. This glycoprotein (designated MFPI) exists as a large-Mr disulphide-bonded aggregate in the absence of a reducing agent. The purified glycoprotein was shown to contain about 6% (w/w) carbohydrate, mostly as galactose, glucose and mannose. Amino acid analysis showed the presence of hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, indicative of its collagenous nature. The collagenous nature of this glycoprotein was further investigated by enzyme digestion. Pepsin digestion produced three major fragments, which were identical with peptides of type VI collagen. Bacterial-collagenase digestion of the unreduced glycoprotein also produced several discrete peptides. However, reduction of the glycoprotein before bacterial-collagenase digestion resulted in the degradation of these discrete peptides. Glycoprotein MFPI extracted in dissociative conditions appears to be a larger-Mr form of type VI collagen, believed to originate from microfibrillar components in the intact tissue.

Extracellular matrix destruction by invasive tumor cells

The invasion of normal tissues and penetration of basement membranes by malignant cells is likely to require the active participation of hydrolytic enzymes. The four major groups of connective tissue proteins, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, collagen and elastin, vary in their quantitative distributions between different tissues. With the exception of elastin, they also vary qualitatively within each class, so that there are no 'typical' connective tissue barriers to tumor cell penetration. The matrix constituents are stabilized and organized by a variety of covalent and noncovalent interactions between the connective tissue proteins. These interactions play important roles in matrix integrity and may alter the susceptibilities of the constituents to degradative enzymes. It is likely that the complete degradation of the matrix will require the action of more than one enzyme because of differing susceptibilities to tissue proteinases. Primary and transplantable tumors produce well-characterized enzymes which may participate in invasion. These enzymes may also be involved in connective tissue turnover in other normal and pathological situations. The use of long-term tumor cell cultures has verified that tumor cells themselves are capable of producing these enzymes. However, there are many potential modulating influences operative in vivo which are absent in culture so that details of actual mechanisms and control of digestion of complex substrates are not well understood. Recent work on the degradation by tumor cells of extracellular matrices previously produced by cultured cells is likely to shed more light on pathways of tissue destruction in vivo. Experiments with tumor cell variants of defined metastatic potentials will also be useful, but invasive and metastatic abilities are not necessarily correlated. It is unlikely that simple correlations can be drawn between the production of one particular degradative enzyme by all tumor cells and the complex biological mechanisms operative during tumor invasion.