Molecular Mass Components Research Articles

An in vitro study of interactions between insulin-mimetic zinc(II) complexes and selected plasma components

The speciations of some potent insulin-mimetic zinc(II) complexes of bidentate ligands: maltol and 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyridinone with (O,O) and picolinic acid with (N,O) coordination modes, were studied via solution equilibrium investigations of the ternary complex formation in the presence of small relevant bioligands of the blood serum such as cysteine, histidine and citric acid. Results show that formation of the ternary complexes, especially with cysteine, is favoured at physiological pH range in almost all systems studied. Besides these low molecular mass binders, serum proteins among others albumin and transferrin can bind zinc(II) or its complexes. Accordingly, the distribution of zinc(II) between the small and high molecular mass fractions of the serum was also studied by ultrafiltration. Modelling calculations relating to the distribution of zinc(II), using the stability constants of the ternary complexes studied and those of the serum proteins reported in the literature, confirmed the ultrafiltration results, namely, the primary role of albumin in zinc(II) binding among the low and high molecular mass components of the serum.

A novel approach for structure quantification of fatty acids films on rain water

A complete compositional or structural description of naturally occurring surfactants on rainwater is not currently feasible. A main limitation of previous work has been the lack of means for correlating force-area characteristics with the chemical makeup of the films. Instead of analyzing the chemical composition of rain water film-forming organics, it is postulated here to introduce the novel scaling procedures (2D virial equation of state and 2D polymer film scaling theory) applied to the surface pressure-area ( π− A) isotherms and surface pressure-temperature ( π− T) isochors, and resulting from generalized physical formalisms modified to a multicomponent surfactant film. A set of the introduced structural film state parameters could become sensitive indicators for surface-active source-specific organic matter pathways tracing, where the measurement of surfactant concentration and chemical analyses are avoided. Performed comprehensive film studies on rain, marine and snow-melted water samples exhibited significant and differentiated film structural parameters variability. The developed procedure allows one to recover the film parameters ( π, Γ, A lim, E isoth) present originally at the raindrop surface from the Langmuir trough data supplemented with the simultaneously taken rain event characteristics (rain rate and rain drop diameter distribution). It requires the partitioning effect of the surfactant molecules between the surface and bulk phases to be estimated where the entering quantities are: the partitioning coefficient K p= Γ/ c and a degree of the rain water interfacial system area development A r/ V r evaluated here using the fatty acids concentrations as model input data. The latter parameter depends on the rain rate and the form of the drop size distribution function differing significantly from the Marshall–Palmer one at low I r (<1 mm h −1). The partitioning factor K p related to the physicochemical composition of the film-composing material exhibited a seasonal and source-specific features and varies in a rather narrow range (5.3–13.7 cm) being of secondary importance in comparison to the interface development term. Original rain drop films exhibited low surface pressures (1.9–5.4 mN m −1) characteristic of a quasi-ideal 2D gas behavior found in a diluted surfactant solution (with c≈10 −3a) and are composed of slightly soluble immiscible components of mean molecular masses within 261–270 Da in agreement with chemical analyses. The concept is quantified using the Langmuir trough film and disdrometer data on a set of rainwater events observed at Gdańsk, Poland in May 2002.

Characterization of venom components from the scorpion Androctonus crassicauda of Turkey: Peptides and genes

The soluble venom from the scorpion Androctonus crassicauda was fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography. At least 44 different sub-fractions were resolved and collected for finger print mass analysis using an electrospray mass spectrometer. This analysis revealed the presence of 80 distinct molecular mass components, from which five were further characterized. A peptide, named Acra1 was fully sequenced. It contains 58 amino acid residues cross-bridged by six cysteines forming three disulfide pairs, with a molecular mass of 6497 Da. A second purified peptide named Acra2 was partially sequenced with a molecular mass of 7849 Da. Acra1 is toxic and Acra2 is lethal to mice, at the dose assayed. Additionally, a cDNA library of the venomous gland of one specimen was prepared and several clones were obtained among which is one that codes for Acra1. Three analog gene sequences were found with point mutations either in the section that corresponds to the mature peptide or to the signal peptide. The signal peptide is 22 amino acid residues long. Several other gene sequences obtained suggest the presence in this venom of three distinct groups of peptides, among which are peptides similar to known Na +-channel specific toxins of other scorpions. A new type of peptide was identified with odd number of cysteines (seven), allowing the formation of heterodimers with molecular masses in the range of 16,000 atomic mass units (a.m.u.)

Se-Enriched Mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus: Distribution of Selenium in Cell Walls and Cell Membranes/Cytosol

The incorporation of Se to fungi has been studied, focusing on element distribution among different cellular compartments and, in particular, polysaccharide structures contained in cell walls. Se-enriched mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus were obtained in submerged cultures. The incorporation of selenium from the growth medium to mycelia was observed with the relative distribution between cytosol plus cell membranes fraction (CCM) and cell walls fraction (CW) of about 44 and 56%, respectively. CCM fractions were analyzed by size exclusion chromatography with on-line UV (280 nm) and ICP-MS detection (80Se). The results obtained showed selenium binding to components of different molecular masses (about 24% of total selenium coeluted with the compounds of molecular mass > 10 kDa). A polysaccharide-containing fraction of mycelia was treated alternatively with Tris-HCl at pH 7.5 or with chitinase. Better solubility and increased contribution of low molecular mass compounds were observed in chitinase extracts (UV detection), confirming the degradation of polysacharides by the enzyme. The total area under the ICP-MS chromatogram of chitinase extract was 2 times higher with respect to the area for Tris-HCl extract. Furthermore, the relative contribution of selenium in the low molecular mass fraction (molecular mass < 1 kDa) in chitinase extract was 72% as compared to 45% in Tris-HCl extract (based on peak area measurements with respect to total area under the chromatogram). The results obtained suggest selenium binding to chitin-containing polysaccharide structures in fungi cell walls.

In vitro leishmanicidal activity of Tityus discrepans scorpion venom

Leishmania parasites are sensitive to peptides with antimicrobial and ion-channel inhibitory activity. Because scorpion venoms are rich sources of such peptides, the leishmanicidal effect of Tityus discrepans venom was investigated. A negative correlation between cell growth and venom concentration was observed for venom-treated cultures of Leishmania (L.) mexicana mexicana promastigotes; 50% growth inhibition was obtained at 0.4 microg/ml. Light microscopy showed rounded, highly vacuolated L. (L.) m. mexicana cells with impaired flagellar motion after 15 min of incubation at 35 microg/ml. Ultrastructural studies confirmed an intense cytoplasm vacuolation and also enlargement of the flagellar pocket. Survival rates for New World Leishmania promastigotes (75% venom effective concentration, microg/ml) obtained after acute (1 h) venom toxicity tests were: L. (L.) m. mexicana (2.3), Leishmania (V.) braziliensis (11.3), and Leishmania (L.) chagasi (56.2). Heat (90 degrees C) treatment of venom and fraction TdII abolished most of their leishmanicidal effect. Acute toxicity assays performed with Sephadex G-50 fractions indicated that leishmanicidal activity is associated with the venom lowest molecular mass components (2.8-7.4 kDa), as determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Changes in the cell-wall polysaccharides of outer pericarp tissues of kiwifruit during development

Changes in pectin, hemicelluloses and cellulose in the cell walls of outer pericarp tissues of kiwifruit ( Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward) were determined during development. An extensive amylase digestion was employed to remove possible contaminating starch before and after fractionation of wall polysaccharides. An initial treatment of crude cell walls with α-amylase and iso-amylase or DMSO, was found to be insufficient removing the contaminating starch from wall polysaccharides. After EDTA and alkaline extraction, the pectic and hemicellulose fractions were again treated with the combination of α-amylase and iso-amylase. The amounts of predominant pectic sugars Gal, Rha and Ara, unaffected by the first and second amylase digestion, decreased markedly during the early fruit enlargement (8–12 weeks after anthesis, WAA), then increased during 16–20 WAA, and finally declined during fruit maturity (20–25 WAA). The molecular-mass of pectic polysaccharides decreased during fruit enlargement (8–16 WAA), and then changed little during fruit maturity. The higher molecular-mass components of hemicelluloses in HC-I and HC-II fractions detected at the early stage of fruit enlargement (8–12 WAA) were degraded at the late stage of fruit enlargement (16 WAA), but then remained stable at the much lower molecular-mass till fruit maturity. The amount of Xyl in the HC-II fraction decreased during the early fruit enlargement and fruit maturity, an observation that was consistent with xyloglucan (XG) content. The gel permeation profiles of XG showed a slight increase in higher molecular-mass components during 8–12 WAA, but thereafter there was no significant down-shift of molecular-mass until harvest time. The cellulose fraction increased steadily during fruit enlargement through maturity, but the XG contents in HC-I and HC-II fractions remained at a low level during these stages. Methylation analysis of HC-I and HC-II fractions confirmed the low level of XG in the hemicellulosic fractions. It was suggested that pectin in the outer pericarp of kiwifruit was degraded at the early stage of fruit enlargement, but XG remains constant during fruit enlargement and maturation.

Polyadipates used as plasticizers in food contact: Fraction below 1000 Da determined by size exclusion chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection and segmental response linearization or UV detection

Polyadipates might be a suitable replacement for conventional plasticizers in plastisols to produce lids for glass jars complying with legal limits for oily foods. For the characterization of polyadipates, the proportion of the material with a molecular mass below 1000 Da is important. Determination of the material < 1000 Da is also important for checking compliance with the specific legal limit. The analytical problems and the sources of uncertainty are investigated. Even when calibrated with constituents of polyadipates, preseparation at 1000 Da is of limited accuracy, since stretched and cyclic components of the same molecular mass have different retention times; a compromise must be found. UV detection leaves substantial uncertainty as the response particularly of the < 1000 Da components varies and tends to be below that of the higher molecular mass polyadipates. Evaporative light scattering detection has a nonlinear response for which a segmental correction (linearization of the integration raw data) is suggested: The raw data of the integration is linearized by an exponential function before the chromatogram is reconstructed.

Molecular Structure in Soil Humic Substances: The New View

A critical examination of published data obtained primarily from recent nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, and pyrolysis studies reveals an evolving new view of the molecular structure of soil humic substances. According to the new view, humic substances are collections of diverse, relatively low molecular mass components forming dynamic associations stabilized by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. These associations are capable of organizing into micellar structures in suitable aqueous environments. Humic components display contrasting molecular motional behavior and may be spatially segregated on a scale of nanometers. Within this new structural context, these components comprise any molecules intimately associated with a humic substance, such that they cannot be separated effectively by chemical or physical methods. Thus biomolecules strongly bound within humic fractions are by definition humic components, a conclusion that necessarily calls into question key biogeochemical pathways traditionally thought to be required for the formation of humic substances. Further research is needed to elucidate the intermolecular interactions that link humic components into supramolecular associations and to establish the pathways by which these associations emerge from the degradation of organic litter.

Molecular mass distribution and degradation rate of xylan sonicated in acid and alkaline media

The molecular mass distribution of birch wood xylan sonicated in H 2SO 4 or KOH solution was investigated for elucidating the effect of medium on the change of molecular distribution. A recycling-style ultrasonic spray system, mainly composed of a 20 kHz frequency generator and a spraying nozzle, was used. Xylan was repeatedly sonicated for 0–15 cycles, and the molecular mass of xylan was determined by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). Results indicated that the molecular mass of sonicated xylan decreased with increasing sonication cycle in alkaline solution, whereas no significant reduced in acid solution was observed. Moreover, the change of molecular mass of xylan treated with sonication in 2% KOH was higher than in 1% KOH solution. The degradation of xylan sonicated in alkaline solution was manifested by a decrease in weight ratio of higher molecular mass component. The changes on degradation rate constant ( k) and average-number of chain splitting ratio (ANCS) of sonicated xylan indicate that the molecule is rapidly degraded within the first 5 cycles of sonication in 2% KOH solution. However, occurrence of aggregation was observed in H 2SO 4 solution ( k<0). Results indicate that alkaline solution is a better medium than acid solution for xylan sonication.

Structure and Properties of the C-terminal Domain of Insulin-like Growth Factor-binding Protein-1 Isolated from Human Amniotic Fluid

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) regulates the activity of the insulin-like growth factors in early pregnancy and is, thus, thought to play a key role at the fetal-maternal interface. The C-terminal domain of IGFBP-1 and three isoforms of the intact protein were isolated from human amniotic fluid, and sequencing of the four N-terminal polypeptide chains showed them to be highly pure. The addition of both intact IGFBP-1 and its C-terminal fragment to cultured fibroblasts has a similar stimulating effect on cell migration, and therefore, the domain has a biological activity on its own. The three-dimensional structure of the C-terminal domain was determined by x-ray crystallography to 1.8 Angstroms resolution. The fragment folds as a thyroglobulin type I domain and was found to bind the Fe(2+) ion in the crystals through the only histidine residue present in the polypeptide chain. Iron (II) decreases the binding of intact IGFBP-1 and the C-terminal domain to IGF-II, suggesting that the metal binding site is close to or part of the surface of interaction of the two molecules.

Characterization of Mixtures of Alkyl Polyglycosides (Plantacare) by Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Industrial products of alkyl polyglycosides (APGs) are widely used as well tolerated surfactants in washing and cleaning agents. APGs belong to the class of nonionic surfactants and are mixtures of molecules consisting of a hydrocarbon chain with Y carbon atoms linked to X sugar residues. Physicochemical properties of APG products strongly depend on the molecular composition. Therefore, a detailed analytical investigation of technical-grade APGs is presented. Complex mixtures of alkyl/alkenyl polyglycosides (APGs, Plantacare) and mixtures of APGs with other surfactants were analyzed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-QTOF-MS) using methanol-water as mobile phase and gradient elution. Analytes were separated according to the chain length of the alkyl homologs. Under the soft ionization of the ESI technique, mainly [M+Na]+ ions were observed, which proved to be very stable. Additionally [M+H]+ ions were detected. The QTOF mass spectrometer allows to identify even high molecular mass components in the mixtures, and APGs up to eight sugar residues were found. From these data, the alkyl/alkenyl chain lengths and the degree of oligomerization of the sugar moiety for different technical-grade APGs were calculated. Using MS/MS experiments, additional structural and chemical information was obtained. The presented LC/ESI-QTOF-MS approach allows to analyze and characterize various APG products, such as Plantacare. The ability of this LC/ESI-QTOF-MS approach to analyze mixtures of APGs with other surfactants is demonstrated.

Lectin KM+-induced neutrophil haptotaxis involves binding to laminin

The lectin KM+ from Artocarpus integrifolia, also known as artocarpin, induces neutrophil migration by haptotaxis. The interactions of KM+ with both the extracellular matrix (ECM) and neutrophils depend on the lectin ability to recognize mannose-containing glycans. Here, we report the binding of KM+ to laminin and demonstrate that this interaction potentiates the KM+-induced neutrophil migration. Labeling of lung tissue by KM+ located its ligands on the endothelial cells, in the basement membrane, in the alveolus, and in the interstitial connective tissue. Such labeling was inhibited by 400 mM D-mannose, 10 mM Manalpha1-3[Manalpha1-6]Man or 10 microM peroxidase (a glycoprotein-containing mannosyl heptasaccharide). Laminin is a tissue ligand for KM+, since both KM+ and anti-laminin antibodies not only reacted with the same high molecular mass components of a lung extract, but also determined colocalized labeling in basement membranes of the lung tissue. The relevance of the KM+-laminin interaction to the KM+ property of inducing neutrophil migration was evaluated. The inability of low concentrations of soluble KM+ to induce human neutrophil migration was reversed by coating the microchamber filter with laminin. So, the interaction of KM+ with laminin promotes the formation of a substrate-bound KM+ gradient that is able to induce neutrophil haptotaxis.

Sterol Composition of Pneumocystis jirovecii with Blocked 14α‐Demethylase Activity

Several drugs that interact with membrane sterols or inhibit their syntheses are effective in clearing a number of fungal infections. The AIDS-associated lung infection caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii is not cleared by many of these therapies. Pneumocystis normally synthesizes distinct C28 and C29 24-alkylsterols, but ergosterol, the major fungal sterol, is not among them. Two distinct sterol compositional phenotypes were previously observed in P. jirovecii. One was characterized by delta7 C28 and C29 24-alkylsterols with only low proportions of higher molecular mass components. In contrast, the other type was dominated by high C31 and C32 24-alkylsterols, especially pneumocysterol. In the present study, 28 molecular species were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of a human lung specimen containing P. jirovecii representing the latter sterol profile phenotype. Fifteen of the 28 had the methyl group at C-14 of the sterol nucleus and these represented 96% of the total sterol mass in the specimen (excluding cholesterol). These results strongly suggest that sterol 14alpha-demethylase was blocked in these organisms. Twenty-four of the 28 were 24-alkylsterols, indicating that methylation of the C-24 position of the sterol side chain by S-adenosyl-L-methionine:sterol C-24 methyl transferase was fully functional.

Proteome analysis of cashmere

As an analysis of the cashmere proteins by Type IV 2-DE, ten kinds of components, including three components with molecular mass 42–50 kDa whose expression level increased in the winter, were separated. In analyzing nine components of these ten using a mass spectrometer, the three components of molecular mass 70–120 kDa and pI 5.3 were identified as keratin type II microfibrillar (accession no. KRSHL2), keratin 48 k type I microfibrillar component 8c-1 (accession no. KRSHL1) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (accession no. O77793), respectively. The three components whose expression level increased in the winter, were identified as keratin type I microfibrillar 48 kDa component 8C-1 (accession no. P02534) and keratin type I microfibrillar 47.6 kDa (accession no. P25690) (pI 5.2/42 kDa), keratin type II microfibrillar component 7C (accession no. P15241) and keratin typeII-sheep (accession no. S34165) (pI 5.5/45 kDa), and the keratin type II microfibrillar component 5 (accession no. P25691) (pI 5.8–6.0/45 kDa), respectively. The three components of less than 17 kDa were identified as hair keratin type II intermediate filament (accession no. CAA51836) (pI 5.2) and keratin high-sulfur matrix protein IIIB2 (accession no. P02447) with a different isoelectric point (pI 5.4 and 5.9), respectively.

Sterol metabolism in the opportunistic pathogen Pneumocystis: Advances and new insights

Pneumocystis can transiently colonize healthy individuals without causing adverse symptoms, and most people test positive for exposure to this organism early in life. However, it can cause Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) in people with impaired immune systems and is a major cause of death in HIV/AIDS. Although it has close affinities to the Ascomycetes, Pneumocystis has features unlike those of any single group of fungi. For example, Pneumocystis does not synthesize ergosterol, which is consistent with the inefficacy of amphotericin B and some triazoles in clearing PcP. Pneumocystis sterols include distinct delta7 24-alkylsterols. Metabolic radiolabeling experiments demonstrated that P. carinii synthesizes sterols de novo. Cholesterol is the most abundant sterol in Pneumocystis; most, if not all, is scavenged from the mammalian host lung by the pathogen. The P. carinii erg7, erg6, and erg11 genes have been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in heterologous systems. The recombinant P. carinii S-adenosyl-L-methionine:C-24 sterol methyl transferase (SAM:SMT) has a preference for lanosterol over zymosterol as substrate, and the enzyme can catalyze the transfer of either one or two methyl groups to the C-24 position of the sterol side chain. Two different sterol compositions were detected among human-derived P. jirovecii; one was dominated by C28 and C29 sterols, and the other had high proportions of higher molecular mass components, notably the C32 sterol pneumocysterol. The latter phenotype apparently represents organisms blocked at 14alpha-demethylation of the sterol nucleus. These studies suggest that SAM:SMT is an attractive drug target for developing new chemotherapy for PcP.

Absence of NADH channeling in coupled reaction of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase and complex I in alamethicin-permeabilized rat liver mitochondria

A simple in situ model of alamethicin-permeabilized isolated rat liver mitochondria was used to investigate the channeling of NADH between mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). Alamethicin-induced pores in the mitochondrial inner membrane allow effective transport of low molecular mass components such as NAD +/NADH but not soluble proteins. Permeabilized mitochondria demonstrate high rates of respiration in the presence of malate/glutamate and NAD + due to coupled reaction between MDH and complex I. In the presence of pyruvate and lactate dehydrogenase, an extramitochondrial competitive NADH utilizing system, respiration of permeabilized mitochondria with malate/glutamate and NAD + was completely abolished. These data are in agreement with the free diffusion of NADH and do not support the suggestion of direct channeling of NADH from MDH to complex I.

Accumulation of zinc, copper, and metallothionein mRNA in lizard ovary proceeds without a concomitant increase in metallothionein content.

The possible role of metallothionein (MT) in metal homeostasis has been investigated in growing oocytes and eggs of the lizard Podarcis sicula. Chromatographic analysis does not reveal the presence of MT in both ovary and eggs, the only metal-binding proteins detected being represented by high molecular mass components. De novo synthesis of MT could be observed in the ovary of cadmium-treated lizards. A cDNA encoding MT was obtained from the liver of P. sicula by RT-PCR followed by a RACE strategy, using primers designed on consensus motifs of vertebrate MT. In spite of the lack of MT in the ovary of untreated animals, Northern blot analysis demonstrates that the maternal untranslated MT transcript is expressed constitutively in the ovary in all the periods of the ovarian cycle. MT mRNA content increases during the oocyte growth, reaching the highest level in ovulated eggs, concomitantly with the accumulation of zinc and copper. Our findings suggest that maternal MT mRNA accumulates in the egg and is translated sometime during development to cope with the future needs of the growing embryo. The appearance of MT after cadmium treatment suggests that the block that makes the oocytarian MT mRNA untranslatable is removed by the metal.

Supercritical antisolvent fractionation of propolis tincture

Propolis is used by bees for strengthening and waterproofing a hive, and for sterilizing the hive against microbial infections. Propolis contains a high concentration of flavonoids, which are used in a wide range of cosmetic and health food preparations for their antimicrobial properties. Propolis is usually dissolved in ethanol or ethanol/water mixtures to remove insoluble material such as waxes and detritus from the hive. The resultant solution is a propolis tincture. A new supercritical antisolvent/extraction process has been developed for the fractionation of propolis tincture to obtain flavonoids and essential oil fractions by extraction, and remove high molecular mass components by antisolvent precipitation. Flavonoids are practically insoluble in pure CO 2, but sufficiently soluble in CO 2+ethanol to enable their separation from high molecular mass and/or more polar components. In the first step of the process, supercritical CO 2 is used both as an anti-solvent to precipitate high molecular mass components, and as a solvent to extract the ethanol and soluble components of the propolis. This extract is then fractionated in two separation steps to create a concentrated flavonoid fraction as the primary product, and an essential oil/ethanol fraction as a secondary product. The effects of pressure, temperature, flow rate ratio, tincture composition and tincture concentration on product quality and yield were determined at a laboratory and pilot scale. The tincture concentration of propolis has the greatest effect on the yield and concentration of flavonoids in the product fraction when pure ethanol is used as the solvent. The flow rate ratio becomes important when the tincture also contains water. The process has been successfully scaled up to a demonstration scale using optimized pressure, temperature, flow ratio and tincture concentrations obtained from laboratory and pilot scale trials.

Binding of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by soluble components of human umbilical cord.

Pre-eclampsia, the most common pregnancy associated syndrome, is connected with remodelling of extracellular matrix of the umbilical cord tissues. Since the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is known to be a stimulator of collagen and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, one may expect that it plays an important role in such a remodelling. Studies performed on the umbilical cords of 10 control and 10 pre-eclamptic newborns demonstrated that both the umbilical cord arterial wall and Wharton's jelly contain FGF mainly in complexes with the components of different molecular mass. Pre-eclampsia is associated with a decrease of endogenous FGF-binding by soluble high molecular mass components of the umbilical cord. It is suggested that FGF released from these complexes may be actively bound by fibroblasts of the umbilical cord, stimulating them to produce collagen and sulphated glycosaminoglycans.

Binding of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by soluble components of human umbilical cord.

Pre-eclampsia, the most common pregnancy associated syndrome, is connected with remodelling of extracellular matrix of the umbilical cord tissues. Since the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is known to be a stimulator of collagen and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, one may expect that it plays an important role in such a remodelling. Studies performed on the umbilical cords of 10 control and 10 pre-eclamptic newborns demonstrated that both the umbilical cord arterial wall and Wharton's jelly contain FGF mainly in complexes with the components of different molecular mass. Pre-eclampsia is associated with a decrease of endogenous FGF-binding by soluble high molecular mass components of the umbilical cord. It is suggested that FGF released from these complexes may be actively bound by fibroblasts of the umbilical cord, stimulating them to produce collagen and sulphated glycosaminoglycans.