TY - JOUR
T1 - The cartilage-specific (V + C)- fibronectin isoform exists primarily in homodimeric and monomeric configurations
AU - Burton-Wurster, Nancy
AU - Gendelman, Rina
AU - Chen, Hao
AU - Gu, Da Nian
AU - Tetreault, Jonathan W.
AU - Lust, George
AU - Schwarzbauer, Jean E.
AU - Macleod, James N.
PY - 1999/8/1
Y1 - 1999/8/1
N2 - Fibronectin is an extracellular-matrix glycoprotein encoded by a single gene, but with significant protein heterogeneity introduced through alternative RNA splicing and post-translational modifications. The (V + C)- splice variant, in which nucleotides encoding protein segments III-15 and I-10 are deleted along with the entire variable region, is unique in that expression is restricted to cartilaginous tissues. All known fibronectin splice variants retain the two C-terminal cysteine residues essential for dimerization, but cellular and/or structural constraints appear to influence homo- and heterodimerization patterns. Dimerization patterns of the (V + C)- isoform were studied under native conditions within canine articular cartilage and experimentally in COS-7, NIH-3T3 and CHO-K1 cell cultures. In all systems, (V + C)- fibronectin secretion was predominantly in a homodimeric configuration. Lower levels of (V + C)- monomers were also present. Heterodimers of (V + C)- with V+,C+ (V120) isoforms were not detected. Heterodimers of (V + C)- with V-,C+ (VO) subunits were detected only at low levels. Functional properties may differ significantly among monomers, homodimers and heterodimers. The unique dimerization pattern of (V + C)- fibronectin is consistent with this isoform having specialized functional properties in situ that are important for either the structural organization and biomechanical properties of cartilage matrix or regulation of a chondrocytic phenotype.
AB - Fibronectin is an extracellular-matrix glycoprotein encoded by a single gene, but with significant protein heterogeneity introduced through alternative RNA splicing and post-translational modifications. The (V + C)- splice variant, in which nucleotides encoding protein segments III-15 and I-10 are deleted along with the entire variable region, is unique in that expression is restricted to cartilaginous tissues. All known fibronectin splice variants retain the two C-terminal cysteine residues essential for dimerization, but cellular and/or structural constraints appear to influence homo- and heterodimerization patterns. Dimerization patterns of the (V + C)- isoform were studied under native conditions within canine articular cartilage and experimentally in COS-7, NIH-3T3 and CHO-K1 cell cultures. In all systems, (V + C)- fibronectin secretion was predominantly in a homodimeric configuration. Lower levels of (V + C)- monomers were also present. Heterodimers of (V + C)- with V+,C+ (V120) isoforms were not detected. Heterodimers of (V + C)- with V-,C+ (VO) subunits were detected only at low levels. Functional properties may differ significantly among monomers, homodimers and heterodimers. The unique dimerization pattern of (V + C)- fibronectin is consistent with this isoform having specialized functional properties in situ that are important for either the structural organization and biomechanical properties of cartilage matrix or regulation of a chondrocytic phenotype.
KW - Chondrocyte
KW - Dimerization
KW - Splice variant
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U2 - 10.1042/0264-6021:3410555
DO - 10.1042/0264-6021:3410555
M3 - Article
C2 - 10417317
AN - SCOPUS:0033179356
SN - 0264-6021
VL - 341
SP - 555
EP - 561
JO - Biochemical Journal
JF - Biochemical Journal
IS - 3
ER -