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Biomedical subjects

E Ruoslahti

Publications and source records attributed to E Ruoslahti.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Human osteosarcoma cells resistant to detachment by an Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptide overproduce the fibronectin receptor.

MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells were selected for attachment and growth in the presence of increasing concentrations of a synthetic peptide containing the cell attachment-promoting Arg-Gly-Asp sequence derived from the cell-binding region of fibronectin. Cells capable of attachment and growth in 5-mM concentrations of a peptide having the sequence Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro overproduce the cell surface receptor for fibronectin. In contrast, these cells show no differences in the numbers of vitronectin receptor they express as compared with the parental MG-63 cells. In agreement with the resistance of the selected cells to detachment by the peptide, 25-fold more Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptide is required to prevent the attachment of these cells to fibronectin-coated surfaces than is needed to inhibit the attachment of MG-63 cells to the same substrate. However, similar concentrations of this peptide inhibit attachment of both cell lines to vitronectin-coated surfaces. The increase in fibronectin receptor is due to an increase in the levels of mRNA encoding the fibronectin receptor. Because of the nature of the selection process, we reasoned that this increase might be due to amplification of the fibronectin receptor gene, but no increase in gene copy number was detected by Southern blot analysis. The peptide-resistant cells display a very different morphology from that of the MG-63 cells, one that has a greater resemblance to that of osteocytes. The resistant cells also grow much more slowly than the MG-63 cells. The increased fibronectin receptor and altered morphology and growth properties were stable for at least 3 mo in the absence of peptide. The enhanced expression of the fibronectin receptor on the resistant cells indicates that cells are capable of altering the amount of fibronectin receptor on their surface in response to environmental factors and that this may in turn affect the phenotypic properties of the cell.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Amino acid sequence of the human fibronectin receptor.

The amino acid sequence deduced from cDNA of the human placental fibronectin receptor is reported. The receptor is composed of two subunits: an alpha subunit of 1,008 amino acids which is processed into two polypeptides disulfide bonded to one another, and a beta subunit of 778 amino acids. Each subunit has near its COOH terminus a hydrophobic segment. This and other sequence features suggest a structure for the receptor in which the hydrophobic segments serve as transmembrane domains anchoring each subunit to the membrane and dividing each into a large ectodomain and a short cytoplasmic domain. The alpha subunit ectodomain has five sequence elements homologous to consensus Ca2+-binding sites of several calcium-binding proteins, and the beta subunit contains a fourfold repeat strikingly rich in cysteine. The alpha subunit sequence is 46% homologous to the alpha subunit of the vitronectin receptor. The beta subunit is 44% homologous to the human platelet adhesion receptor subunit IIIa and 47% homologous to a leukocyte adhesion receptor beta subunit. The high degree of homology (85%) of the beta subunit with one of the polypeptides of a chicken adhesion receptor complex referred to as integrin complex strongly suggests that the latter polypeptide is the chicken homologue of the fibronectin receptor beta subunit. These receptor subunit homologies define a superfamily of adhesion receptors. The availability of the entire protein sequence for the fibronectin receptor will facilitate studies on the functions of these receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gene expression of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein PG19.

We have examined genomic sequences and mRNA species hybridizing to a cDNA clone of a yolk sac carcinoma chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan designated PG19. Genomic blot hybridizations with cDNAs covering the majority of the PG19 mRNA sequence revealed 15 to 17 gene fragments. Similar analysis with probes representing either the propeptide or the combined core protein COOH-terminal domain and 3' untranslated sequences revealed single genomic fragments indicating that a single gene codes for the PG19 proteoglycan. Genomic blot analysis with cDNA sequences coding for the serine-glycine repeat of the core protein identified the same gene fragments observed with the entire PG19 cDNA, indicating that this coding region is homologous with sequences present in multiple genes. The same probes were also used to examine mRNA expression. In addition to the PG19 mRNA, several PG19-related mRNAs could be seen. These PG19-related mRNAs had homology with the serine-glycine coding sequence of the PG19 cDNA. These mRNAs may be coding for proteoglycans. The mRNA coding for PG19 appeared to be uniquely expressed in parietal yolk sac and mast cell lineages. The PG19 mRNA existed in different forms in parietal yolk sac and mast cell lines due to cell-type-specific differences in the length of the 5' untranslated sequences. These results indicate that expression of the PG19 proteoglycan gene is regulated both in terms of cell-type-specific transcription and selection of a transcriptional start site.

Aggrecans↗

Imaging of primary and metastatic liver cancer with 131I monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against alphafetoprotein.

Thirteen patients with a history of confirmed liver carcinoma were given either I131 goat polyclonal or murine monoclonal antibodies against alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and then scanned with a gamma camera. In order to reduce background, nontarget activity, especially in the liver, blood pool, and reticuloendothelial system, 99mTc imaging agents were used for tumor image enhancement by computer-assisted subtraction. A sensitivity of 91% for the primary site, 50% for the lungs (33% for the chest area), and 75% for the abdomen and pelvis was achieved, with a specificity of 100%, 94%, and 100% for these sites, respectively. The accuracy was determined to be 93% for the liver, 86% for the lungs (77% for the chest), and 85% for the abdominal and pelvic area, resulting in an overall accuracy rate for imaging primary and metastatic hepatocellular cancer of 84% (90% if bone metastases are excluded). In two of the 13 patients, lesions that had been missed by conventional liver scintigraphy and transmission computed tomography (CT) were first shown by radioimmunodetection (RAID).

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid sequences and fibrinogen binding to platelets.

Human fibrinogen has an Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) sequence at residues 572-575 of its A alpha-chain. Although RGDS-containing peptides inhibit fibrinogen binding to stimulated platelets, these peptides also inhibit platelet binding of human fibrinogen fragment X and rat fibrinogen, which lack RGDS sequences corresponding to A alpha 572-575. Thus competition between free RGD-containing peptides and internal RGDS sequence at A alpha 572-575 is not the basis for their inhibition of fibrinogen binding to platelets. Addition of a Thr to the carboxy-terminus and an Asn to the amino-terminus of the RGDS sequence, the amino acids corresponding to A alpha 576 and 571 respectively, reduced the inhibitory potency of RGDS-containing peptides by fourfold to tenfold. Arg-Gly-Asp-Phe (RGDF) corresponds to A alpha 95-98, and the RGDF peptide was an effective inhibitor of fibrinogen binding, fourfold to fivefold more potent than RGDS. Thus, local primary structure may play an important role in regulating the capacity of RGD sequences in proteins to interact with specific adhesion receptors.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Interaction of vitronectin with collagen.

Purified human plasma vitronectin was demonstrated to bind to type I collagen immobilized on plastic as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by binding of 125I-radiolabeled vitronectin to a collagen-coated plastic surface. Vitronectin did not bind to immobilized laminin, fibronectin, or albumin in these assays. Vitronectin showed similar interaction with all types of collagen (I, II, III, IV, V, and VI) tested. Collagen unfolded by heat treatment bound vitronectin less efficiently than native collagen. Vitronectin-coated colloidal gold particles bound to type I collagen fibrils as shown by electron microscopy. Salt concentrations higher than physiological interfered with the binding of vitronectin to collagen, suggesting an ionic interaction between the two proteins. Binding studies conducted in the presence of plasma showed that purified vitronectin added to plasma bound to immobilized collagen, whereas the endogenous plasma vitronectin bound to collagen less well. Although fibronectin did not interfere with the binding of vitronectin to native collagen, vitronectin inhibited the binding of fibronectin to collagen. These results show that vitronectin has a collagen-binding site(s) which, unlike that of fibronectin, preferentially recognizes triple-helical collagen and that the binding between vitronectin and collagen has characteristics compatible with the occurrence of such an interaction in vivo.

Blood Proteins↗

cDNA sequences from the alpha subunit of the fibronectin receptor predict a transmembrane domain and a short cytoplasmic peptide.

The fibronectin receptor is a complex of two cell surface glycopeptides that mediate the binding of cells to fibronectin substrata. To study the structure of this receptor, we have isolated cDNA clones coding for the human fibronectin receptor alpha subunit from a lambda gt11 placental cDNA library. The cDNAs code for 229 amino acids from the COOH terminus of the alpha subunit. The deduced sequence has a hydrophobic region with properties characteristic of a membrane-spanning domain. From the membrane-spanning domain to the COOH terminus are 23-28 amino acids that are likely to constitute the cytoplasmic domain. These results establish the fibronectin receptor alpha subunit as an integral membrane protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification from cDNA of the precursor form of a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein.

The yolk sac carcinoma cell line L2 secretes a chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycan that has an Mr 10,000 core protein and carries an average of 14 glycosaminoglycan chains. The amino acid sequence of the mature core protein has been determined from cloned cDNA (Bourdon, M. A., Oldberg, A., Pierschbacher, M., and Ruoslahti, E. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 82, 1321-1325). From additional cDNA sequences described in this report we have identified the prepro core protein precursor of the yolk sac carcinoma chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycan. From the amino acid sequence of the core protein precursor can be deduced the protein processing events in the biosynthesis of the proteoglycan. The amino acid sequence shows that the 104-amino acid mature core protein is processed from a 179-amino acid prepro core protein precursor which, in addition to the mature core protein, contains a 26-amino acid signal peptide as well as a 49-amino acid propeptide. The molecular weight of the prepro core protein predicted from the cDNA sequence (Mr = 18,600) was in good agreement with the molecular weight of the in vitro translation product (Mr = 19,000) of hybrid-selected mRNA. Accordingly, we have designated the proteoglycan core protein PG19. Further analysis of the PG19 mRNA by RNA sequencing confirmed the identification of the core protein translation initiation codon by revealing stop codons in all three reading frames of the upstream mRNA sequence. Primer extension analyses demonstrated that the 5' untranslated sequence of the proteoglycan mRNA is approximately 220 nucleotides in length, which, combined with the length of cDNA clones, accounts for the entire length of the coding sequence of PG19 mRNA from L2 cells. The cDNA sequences presented here establish the complete protein sequence of PG19 and provide evidence of polypeptide processing during the biosynthesis of the proteoglycan core protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa: member of a family of Arg-Gly-Asp--specific adhesion receptors.

Adhesive interactions of the platelet surface with plasma proteins such as fibrinogen and fibronectin play an important role in thrombosis and hemostasis. The binding of both of these proteins to platelets is inhibited by synthetic peptides containing the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp, which corresponds to the cell adhesion site in fibronectin and is also present in the alpha chain of fibrinogen. An affinity matrix made of an insolubilized heptapeptide containing the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence selectively binds the platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa from detergent extracts of platelets. When incorporated into liposome membranes, the isolated protein confers to the liposomes the ability to bind to surfaces coated with fibrinogen, fibronectin, and vitronectin but not to surfaces coated with thrombospondin or albumin. This platelet receptor is related to the previously identified fibronectin and vitronectin receptors in that it recognizes an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence but differs from the other receptors in its wider specificity toward various adhesive proteins. These results establish the existence of a family of adhesion receptors that recognize the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evolution of the fibronectin gene. Exon structure of cell attachment domain.

Genomic DNA coding for human fibronectin was identified from a human genomic library by screening with a cDNA clone that specifies the cell attachment domain in human fibronectin. Two clones which together provided more than 22 kilobase pairs of the fibronectin gene were isolated. The exons in this region correspond to approximately 40% of the coding region in the fibronectin gene. They code for the middle region of the polypeptide which consists of homologous repeating segments of about 90 amino acids called type III homologies. Nucleotide sequence of the portion of the gene corresponding to the cell attachment domain showed that the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser cell attachment site is encoded within a 165-base pair exon. This exon, together with a 117-base pair exon codes for a homology unit. Analysis of the exon/intron organization in some of the neighboring homology units indicated a similar 2-exon structure. An exception to this pattern is that a single large exon codes for a type III homology unit that, due to alternative mRNA splicing, exists in some but not all fibronectin polypeptides. The introns separating the coding sequences for the type III homology units are located in conserved positions whereas the introns that interrupt the coding sequence within the units are in a variable position generating variations in the size of the homologous exons. This exon/intron organization suggests that the type III homology region of the fibronectin gene has evolved by a series of gene duplications of a primordial gene consisting of two exons. Specification of one of these homology units to the cell attachment domain has occurred within this exon/intron arrangement.

Base Sequence↗

Molecular cloning of proteoglycan core proteins.

Recombinant DNA methods have been used to analyse core proteins of two different proteoglycans, one from a rat yolk sac tumour and the other from human fibroblasts and fetal membrane tissue. The processed core protein of the yolk sac tumour proteoglycan is a 104-amino acid polypeptide. This polypeptide contains a 49-amino acid serine-glycine repeat which clearly serves as the chondroitin sulphate attachment region. Genomic and mRNA blots suggest that this core protein is a member of a multigene family the members of which share the Ser-Gly repeat. The fibroblast/fetal membrane proteoglycan has a 329-amino acid core protein which is also processed from a larger precursor. This core protein contains three individual Ser-Gly dipeptides, one of which is known to be substituted with a chondroitin/dermatan sulphate side-chain. The availability of proteoglycan cDNA clones will facilitate gene transfer studies aimed at identifying the recognition sequences for the addition of the glycosaminoglycan. Gene transfer should also allow studies on the effects of proteoglycan expression on cellular properties such as adhesion and tumorigenicity.

Aggrecans↗

Primary structure of an extracellular matrix proteoglycan core protein deduced from cloned cDNA.

The core protein of a small chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycan expressed by human fibroblasts and present in extracellular matrices in association with collagen has been cloned from a lambda gt11 fibroblast cDNA library. cDNA clones were isolated by use of antibodies specific for the intact proteoglycan and antibodies against a peptide synthesized on the basis of the amino-terminal sequence of the core protein. A 1.8-kilobase cDNA was found to code for a prepro core protein composed of a signal peptide, a propeptide, and a mature core protein of 329 amino acids. The amino-terminal amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA sequence was identical to that previously obtained by protein sequencing. The core protein contains three Ser-Gly dipeptide sequences, of which one is substituted with glycosaminoglycan. A protein data base homology search established the core protein sequence is a unique sequence distinct from published amino acid sequences. RNA blot hybridizations, performed using the cloned cDNA as a probe, revealed two related transcripts of 1.6 and 1.9 kilobases in RNA from both human fibroblast and placental tissue. Hybridization of genomic DNA restriction fragments suggested that there is one gene for the core protein of this proteoglycan and possibly one other closely related gene. Availability of the cloned cDNA for the proteoglycan now makes it possible to apply methods of molecular biology to study the collagen-binding and cell attachment-inhibiting properties of this proteoglycan.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

cDNA and amino acid sequences of the cell adhesion protein receptor recognizing vitronectin reveal a transmembrane domain and homologies with other adhesion protein receptors.

Cells adhere to vitronectin substrates through a cell surface receptor that recognizes an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence in vitronectin. The receptor is a glycoprotein composed of a 150-kDa alpha and a 115-kDa beta subunit. The alpha subunit consists of two disulfide-bonded chains of 125 kDa and 25 kDa. cDNA clones were isolated for the alpha subunit of the vitronectin receptor from a phage lambda gt11 expression library made with RNA from a human fibroblast cell line, IMR-90. The identity of the clones that had been selected from the library based on immunological criteria was verified by comparison of DNA and protein sequences. NH2-terminal sequences were obtained for each of the alpha-subunit chains. The sequence of the 25-kDa chain of the alpha subunit was found in a cDNA clone, and the amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA establishes the complete amino acid sequence of the 25-kDa chain. This chain contains a membrane-spanning domain as well as a putative intracytoplasmic region that is 32 amino acids long and consists mostly of polar amino acids. Comparison of the cDNA and protein sequences shows that the 25-kDa chain is generated by proteolytic cleavage of an alpha-subunit precursor, the partial sequence of which is contained in the cDNA clones. These clones contain 1910 base pairs of open reading frame and a 3' untranslated sequence. RNA blot hybridization detected one transcript of about 7 kilobases in RNA from fibroblastic and epithelial cells. Together, the cDNA clones cover 4442 bases of this RNA. The alpha-subunit sequence showed strong homology with the sequence of the alpha subunit of fibronectin receptor. Moreover, the NH2-terminal protein sequence of the 125-kDa chain was homologous with the NH2-terminal sequences of two other cell surface proteins, lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) and macrophage antigen 1 (Mac-1), which have been implicated as receptors for adhesion proteins of leukocytes. These results establish several of the structural features in the vitronectin receptor and suggest the existence of a superfamily of receptors for cell adhesion proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mapping of domains in human laminin using monoclonal antibodies: localization of the neurite-promoting site.

Monoclonal antibodies were made against a truncated form of human laminin isolated from placenta. 12 antibodies were isolated and characterized. All antibodies stained basement membranes in placenta and immunoprecipitated laminin from media of cultured choriocarcinoma cells. Three antibodies, 3E5, 4C7, and 4E10, partially blocked the neurite-promoting activity of laminin. Addition of a second antibody, goat anti-mouse IgG, caused more complete blocking of the activity. Two of the blocking antibodies, 4C7 and 4E10, reacted with epitopes within the globular domain at the end of the long arm of laminin, and the third one, 3E5, reacted at the end of the rod-like portion of the long arm adjacent to the globular domain, as shown by electron microscopy after rotary shadowing. Five nonblocking antibodies used in the same test reacted with epitopes in other domains of the molecule. Blocking antibodies 3E5 and 4E10 could be used in immunoblotting and both antibodies reacted with the same polypeptides in pepsin fragments of human laminin, the predominant polypeptides being approximately 400 kD. When a crude extract of human amnion was used as a source of intact laminin, the 4E10 antibody detected a single polypeptide of approximately 400 kD. A nonblocking antibody, 2E8, which reacted at the center of the laminin cross, reacted predominantly with a 200-kD polypeptide in human laminin fragments and exclusively with a 200-kD polypeptide in amnion extract and in rat laminin. Our results with human laminin match the results by Edgar, D., R. Timpl, and H. Thoenen, 1984, EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J., 3:1463-1468, in which the neurite-promoting activity of mouse laminin resides at the end of the long arm, which is also the site for heparin binding. However, since the active fragments of human laminin did not bind to heparin, the neurite-promoting site should be different from the heparin-binding site. Our results further suggest that the neurite-promoting site may be contained in or close to the 400-kD component of laminin.

Animals↗

Association of thrombin-antithrombin III complex with vitronectin in serum.

Purification of vitronectin by identical procedures from serum instead of plasma results in the coisolation of an additional protein component with mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of 82 kDa. We show that this component is the thrombin-antithrombin III complex based on the following evidence. Similar to a complex constructed using purified thrombin and antithrombin III, the 82-kDa component has a reduced molecular size of 69 kDa if it is not boiled prior to SDS-PAGE. Upon prolonged boiling in SDS it dissociates into 56- and 32-kDa components which co-migrate in SDS-PAGE with purified antithrombin III and thrombin, respectively. The 82- and 56-kDa components react with an antiserum against antithrombin III, and an antiserum prepared against the 82-kDa complex reacts with purified antithrombin III. Thrombin-antithrombin III complex, from either serum or recalcified clotted plasma, bound to vitronectin immobilized on Sepharose or plastic. However, purified antithrombin III which had not reacted with thrombin lacked affinity for vitronectin as did antithrombin III from citrated plasma. Purified antithrombin III acquired affinity for immobilized vitronectin if it was complexed with thrombin or was modified by radioiodination. Binding of vitronectin to antithrombin III coated on plastic was demonstrated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These results demonstrate that vitronectin binds thrombin-antithrombin III complexes through a cryptic site in antithrombin III which can be exposed when antithrombin III is radioiodinated, bound to plastic, or complexed with thrombin. Since vitronectin can interact with cells, the binding of vitronectin to the thrombin-antithrombin III complex may serve to facilitate the interaction of this complex with cell surfaces.

Antithrombin III↗

Inhibition of fibronectin binding to platelets by proteolytic fragments and synthetic peptides which support fibroblast adhesion.

To define regions within fibronectin (Fn) recognized by platelet binding sites, inhibition of Fn binding by an Fn fragment and synthetic peptides has been analyzed. A highly purified 120-kDa chymotryptic fragment, which has cell attachment activity but did not bind to insolubilized heparin or gelatin, inhibited Fn binding to platelets with an ID50 approximately 3 microM. Previous work indicates that fibroblasts attach to an 11.5-kDa subfragment of this 120-kDa fragment, and that one of four 30-residue synthetic peptides containing sequences from this region supports cell attachment. Only the peptide containing the COOH terminus of the 11.5-kDa fragment inhibited Fn binding to platelets, with an ID50 approximately 10 microM and is the peptide which supports fibroblast attachment. Of the smaller peptides studied from this sequence, all peptides containing the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser sequence, including the tetrapeptide itself, were active in inhibiting Fn binding to platelets (ID50 values approximately 10-20 microM). The same peptides support fibroblast attachment. Those which lacked this sequence including Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro and Thr-Gly-Arg-Gly (immediately adjacent tetrapeptides) lacked both activities. Further evidence for specificity of inhibition was provided by structurally modified peptides in which substitution of a Glu for Asp abolished inhibitory activity and substitution of Lys for Arg or Ala for Gly reduced activity 6- and 8-fold, respectively. In addition, Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-containing peptides inhibited the rate and extent of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. These data suggest that the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser tetrapeptide contains a recognition specificity involved in the binding of Fn to platelets and that platelets share features of this recognition specificity with fibroblasts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure of the carbohydrate units of human amniotic fluid fibronectin.

Human amniotic fluid fibronectin was found to contain three types of carbohydrates: complex-type N-glycosidic glycans, lactosaminoglycans, and O-glycosidic glycans. The structures of the complex-type glycans were established by carbohydrate and methylation analysis, Smith degradation, sequential exoglycosidase treatments, lectin chromatography, and DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. Lactosaminoglycans were analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and the O-glycosidically-linked oligosaccharides by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-pressure liquid chromatography. The results show that amniotic fluid fibronectin contains 2 mol of biantennary and 2-3 mol of triantennary, complex-type N-glycosidic glycans. Unlike the N-glycosidic glycans of human adult plasma fibronectin, which contain only traces of fucose and are completely sialylated, the glycans from amniotic fluid fibronectin are fucosylated and only partially sialylated. The complex-type N-glycosidic glycans present in amniotic fluid fibronectin also include a fractional amount (0.1 mol) of glycans with a polylactosaminyl structure. In addition, 4 mol of O-glycosidic oligosaccharides, which have not previously been described in fibronectins, were found in amniotic fluid fibronectin. The major oligosaccharides in this fraction have the structures Gal beta 1----3GalNAcol, NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAcol and NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3(NeuNAc alpha 2----6)GalNAcol. O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides were also detected in human adult plasma fibronectin but in smaller amounts than in amniotic fluid fibronectin. These results show that amniotic fluid fibronectin differs from plasma fibronectin with regard to the number of glycans attached to the polypeptide and that the glycans present in these two fibronectins differ in structure.

Amniotic Fluid↗