Abstract

Using yeast two-hybrid, ligand blotting, and solid phase binding assays, we have shown that microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 (MAGP-1) interacts with the 8-cysteine motif of fibrillin-2 encoded by exon 24. Binding to this sequence was demonstrated for full-length MAGP-1 as well as for the MAGP-1 matrix-binding domain encoded by exons 7 and 8. The matrix-binding domain, but not the full-length protein, also bound to regions of fibrillin-2 defined by exons 16 and 17, exon 20, and exons 23 and 24. Interestingly, no binding was detected to sequences near the N or C terminus where MAGP-1 and MAGP-2, respectively, were shown to interact with fibrillin-1. The localization of MAGP-1 binding to the 8-Cys domain encoded by exon 24 suggests that the bead structure of microfibrils consists of exon 24 and portions of the central region of fibrillin-2. Exon 24 in fibrillin lies in the region of the molecule where mutations produce the most severe phenotypes associated with Marfan syndrome (fibrillin-1) and congenital contractural arachnodactyly (fibrillin-2). It is possible that these mutations alter the ability of fibrillin to bind MAGP-1, which may contribute to the severity of the disease.

Highlights

  • 8-cysteine motif of fibrillin-2 encoded by exon 24

  • The localization of MAGP-1 binding to the 8-Cys domain encoded by exon 24 suggests that the bead structure of microfibrils consists of exon 24 and portions of the central region of fibrillin-2

  • The MBD of MAGP-1, a cysteine-rich region encoded by exons 7 and 8, was shown in earlier studies to be the minimal sequence in MAGP-1 capable of directing its deposition onto microfibrils in the extracellular matrix (6)

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Summary

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

Materials—A partial FBN2 cDNA was provided by Dr Francesco Ramirez (Hospital for Special Surgery at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Ithaca, NY). Production of MAGP-1 and FBN2 Fragments in Mammalian Cells— The generation of CHOK1 stable transfectants expressing NLR3e/6, Aik, and full-length bovine MAGP-1 and the protein purification procedures are described elsewhere (18, 20). Positive cultures for protein expression were determined by Western blot of Ni2ϩ-nitrilotriacetic acid-agarose-purified conditioned medium. For Western blot analysis, the membranes were blocked with 5% (w/v) nonfat dry milk, 0.1% Tween 20 in phosphate-buffered saline for 1 h at 37 °C, incubated with specific primary antibodies (1:1000) for 1 h, and washed twice with blocking agent. The blots were washed and incubated with MAGP-GST antibody diluted 1:1000 in blocking agent for 1 h at 37 °C. After three washes with wash buffer, the fibrillin-coated wells were incubated for 2 h at 37 °C with serial dilutions of MAGP-1-containing medium harvested from MAGP-1-transfected CHO cells. Bioinformatics—Primary sequence input, alignment, and conceptual translation were performed with the LASERGENE package of programs (DNASTAR, Inc., Madison, WI)

RESULTS
Ligand blot
DISCUSSION

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