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Biosynthesis of type I procollagen. Characterization of the distribution of chain sizes and extent of hydroxylation of polysome-associated pro-alpha-chains.

[3H]Proline-labeled nascent procollagen chains were isolated from chick tendon polysome preparations as peptidyl-tRNA complexes by ion exchange chromatography. Proline hydroxylation of the nascent chains was at least 40% complete, based on radioactive hydroxyproline/proline ratios. These data provide the first direct evidence that hydroxylation of procollagen proline residues does occur on nascent chains. The electrophoretic profiles of [3H]proline-labeled nascent chains and of unlabeled nascent chains visualized by Western blotting with 35S-labeled monoclonal antibodies to the alpha 1(I) N-propeptide or the C-propeptides indicate that there are pauses in the translation of procollagen alpha-chains in the intact cells. Approximately 25% of the radioactivity associated with [3H]proline-labeled polysomes was in fully elongated but underhydroxylated (relative to secreted procollagen) pro-alpha-chains. The association of these completely elongated but only partially modified procollagen chains with the polysome complex may facilitate the carboxyl-terminal interactions which lead to triple helix formation.

Animals↗

Folding of carboxyl domain and assembly of procollagen I.

An early form of procollagen I was found in acetic acid extracts of radioactively labeled chick embryo skull bones. It resembled native procollagen I, but sedimented slightly faster, and its component chains were slightly underhydroxylated and were not disulfide-linked to each other, although its propeptides were internally disulfide-bonded. Pulse-chase experiments showed its conversion to disulfide-linked procollagen. As the same conversion occurred when proline hydroxylation was blocked by 2,2'-dipyridyl, we infer that the formation of this precursor from its component chains does not require collagen triple helix formation. We suggest that interaction between the folded carboxyl propeptides of individual pro-alpha (I) chains is an important step in the formation of this precursor and of procollagen I. Studies of the refolding and association of fully reduced and denatured carboxyl propeptides supported this concept. In the presence of glutathione the correct disulfide bonds could be reestablished, as judged by a mapping of some tryptic peptides. Individual carboxyl propeptides refolded first, and this occurred even in 2 M urea. Recognition between folded carboxyl propeptides occurred only when less than 0.5 M urea was present. The presence of the carboxyl telopeptides was important for trimeric reassembly. Individual propeptides also folded spontaneously during cell-free translation of pro-alpha (I) chains and were recognized by specific antibodies. We consider the role of carboxyl propeptides in the formation of procollagen I molecules and suggest a model of self-assembly, possibly facilitated by interactions with the luminal surface of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Animals↗

The molecular defect in an autosomal dominant form of osteogenesis imperfecta. Synthesis of type I procollagen containing cysteine in the triple-helical domain of pro-alpha 1(I) chains.

Synthesis of procollagen was examined in skin fibroblasts from a patient with a moderately severe autosomal dominant form of osteogenesis imperfecta. Proteolytic removal of the propeptide regions of newly synthesized procollagen, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions, revealed the presence of type I collagen in which two alpha 1(I) chains were linked through interchain disulfide bonds. Fragmentation of the disulfide-bonded alpha 1(I) dimers with vertebrate collagenase and cyanogen bromide demonstrated the presence of a cysteine residue in alpha 1(I)CB8, a fragment containing amino acid residues 124-402 of the alpha 1(I) collagen chain. Cysteine residues are not normally found in the triple-helical domain of type I collagen chains. The heterozygous nature of the molecular defect resulted in the formation of three kinds of type I trimers: a normal type with normal pro-alpha(I) chains, a type I trimer with one mutant pro-alpha 1(I) chain and two normal chains, and a type I trimer containing two mutant pro-alpha 1(I) chains and one normal pro-alpha 2(I) chain. The presence of one or two mutant pro-alpha 1(I) chains in trimers of type I procollagen was found to reduce the thermal stability of the protein by 2.5 and 1 degree C, respectively. In addition to post-translational overmodification, procollagen containing one mutant pro-alpha 1(I) chain was also cleared more slowly from cultured fibroblasts. The most likely explanation for these disruptive changes in the physical stability and secretion of the mutant procollagen is that a cysteine residue is substituted for a glycine in half of the pro-alpha 1(I) chains synthesized by the patient's fibroblasts.

Chymotrypsin↗

Separate amino and carboxyl procollagen peptidases in chick embryo tendon.

Procollagen synthesized by freshly excised chick enbryo leg tendons is efficiently processed by proteolytic removal of first the amino propeptides and then the carboxyl propeptides. The same processes proceed in confluent short term cell cultures derived from such tendon explants; in sparse cultures cleavage of the amino propeptides predominates. Separate amino and carboxyl procollagen peptidase activities were demonstrated by specific assays in enzymes obtained from cell culture media by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, and velocity sedimentation. Both enzymes are inhibited by EDTA and 1:10 phenanthroline but not by inhibitors of serine proteases. Evidence is provided that the proteolytic scissions are specific and similar to the physiologically occurring processes. The collagen telopeptides left after cutting by the enzymes can participate in lysyl oxidase-induced cross-linking. The enzymes can remove propeptides from cross-linked procollagens without destroying these links which occur through telopeptides. The enzymes act on the separated amino and carboxyl portions of procollagen fragmented by vertebrate collagenase and can act on procollagens which have been associated as well as on molecules in solution.

Aminopeptidases↗

Processing of procollagen types III and I in cultured bovine smooth muscle cells.

The processing of type III and type I procollagen molecules in cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells was investigated. The molecular identities of the processing intermediates of type III and type I procollagen were characterized by analysis of the radioactive collagenous components using mammalian collagenase and pepsin digestions and cyanogen bromide peptide mapping. The results indicate that the processed intermediates for procollagen type III and type I are their respective pC components. Although the processing pathways for both collagen types are the same, data from pulse-chase experiments suggest that the rates at which the processing occurs are different. Type I procollagen is processed more rapidly to its intermediate than is type III procollagen. The type I pC intermediate is almost completely processed to alpha-chains and a significant portion of these fully processed molecules remains in a soluble form even after 11 h. In the same time period, the type III pC intermediate is slowly converted to alpha-chains. Since beta-aminopropionitrile was not employed in these studies, significant accumulation of collagen chains into the insoluble extracellular matrix was observed during the chase period.

Animals↗

Procollagen IV. Association to tetramers.

Procollagen IV was isolated from culture media of the mouse endodermal cell line PF-HR9. Some of the triple helical procollagen IV molecules were associated at their NH2 ends to tetramers which were identified by electron microscopy, velocity sedimentation, and electrophoresis. The formation of these tetramers in cell cultures and from isolated procollagen IV molecules was investigated. After an initial noncovalent association, which is reversible, disulfide bonds form between molecules. Even alkylated molecules form disulfide-linked tetramers when exposed to a mixture of reduced and oxidized glutathione. This reaction requires an adequate concentration of procollagen and is not facilitated by added laminin, Ca2+, or Mg2+ ions. Cystine, as a normal constituent of cell culture media, interferes in tetramer assembly, presumably by forming mixed disulfides. Tetramers formed normally and under the influence of glutathione are similar, but probably not identical, and resemble those isolated from fragmented basement membranes. We conclude that the NH2 ends of procollagen IV molecules can associate into tetramers without the help of other molecules and that disulfide bridges subsequently stabilize the association in various ways.

Animals↗

Dexamethasone decreases the amounts of type I procollagen mRNAs in vivo and in fibroblast cell cultures.

Dexamethasone treatment of neonatal chicks resulted in a time- and dose-dependent selective decrease of skin collagen synthesis. Total RNA of chick skin was isolated and hybridized to the cloned cDNAs pCg54 for pro-alpha 1 (I) mRNA and pCg45 for pro-alpha 2(I) mRNA. RNA isolated from the total skin of chicks receiving various doses of dexamethasone had dose-related decreases of pro-alpha 1 (I) and pro-alpha 2(I) mRNAs. The decrease of type I procollagen mRNAs for various doses of dexamethasone were similar to the decreases observed for collagen synthesis in vivo. Dexamethasone treatment of chick skin and chick lung fibroblasts resulted in a selective decrease of procollagen synthesis. A dose-related decrease of procollagen synthesis was observed with chick skin fibroblasts. Dexamethasone-treated chick skin and chick lung fibroblasts had decreased levels of pro-alpha 1 (I) and pro-alpha 2(I) mRNAs as determined by solid support hybridization with pCg54 and pCg45. The dexamethasone-mediated decreases of type I procollagen mRNAs in skin fibroblasts and lung fibroblasts were similar to the decreases observed in procollagen synthesis.

Animals↗

Inhibition by tumor-promoting phorbol esters of procollagen synthesis in promotable JB6 mouse epidermal cells.

The JB6 mouse epidermal cell line has been developed to study promotion of neoplastic transformation in vitro. Treatment of JB6 cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or other tumor promoters resulted in the irreversible acquisition by JB6 cells of tumorigenicity in nude mice and anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. As previously reported, one of the biochemical responses that occurs during TPA treatment is a greater than 75% reduction in a mannose-labeled glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 180,000. This TPA-sensitive glycoprotein has now been identified on the basis of collagenase and pepsin sensitivity as procollagen pro-alpha 1(I) chain. [3H]proline labeling also demonstrated a parallel decrease in the 150,000 procollagen pro-alpha 2(I) component. Two nonphorbol promoters, mezerein and epidermal growth factor, were also active in decreasing procollagen synthesis. Promotion-sensitive and promotion-resistant clonal derivatives of JB6 showed similar basal levels of collagen synthesis as well as similar degrees of TPA-dependent procollagen loss indicating that the collagen decrease may be necessary but is not sufficient to produce the promotion response. Comparison of chemically transformed mouse epidermal cell lines with paried nontransformants suggests the reduced procollagen synthesis is a stably acquired phenotypic change and may therefore be involved in maintenance of the transformed phenotype as well as in its induction.

Animals↗

Gene mapping of human ocular connective tissue proteins. Assignment of the structural gene for corneal type I procollagen to human chromosome 7 in human corneal stroma-mouse fibroblast somatic cell hybrids.

Somatic cell hybrids between mouse and human corneal stroma fibroblasts have been used to identify the human chromosome responsible for the synthesis of human corneal type I procollagen. Twenty-six separate hybrid clones and subclones from three separate hybridization events were isolated in hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine (HAT) selection medium and were used to assay for the production of human type I procollagen. Human and mouse chromosomes were identified in each hybrid clone by alkaline Giemsa staining of metaphase chromosomes spread and by isozyme analysis. We have found that human type I procollagen production segregates concordantly with human chromosome 7 and with beta-glucuronidase, another human chromosome 7 marker. The pro-alpha 1 gene and possibly the pro-alpha 2 gene appear to be encoded on human chromosome 7. Because we have previously assigned the gene for human skin type I procollagen to chromosome 17, our present data indicate that separate genes and control mechanisms must exist for skin and corneal type I procollagen.

Animals↗

Kinetic studies of the intracellular transport of procollagen and fibronectin in human fibroblasts. Effects of the monovalent ionophore, monensin.

The monovalent ionophore, monensin, has been found to inhibit the secretion of both procollagen and fibronectin from human fibroblasts in cell culture. The kinetics of inhibition, as well as those for the release of inhibition, suggested that both proteins may be cotransported in the cell. In the present study, we have examined the intracellular translocation and release into the culture medium of procollagen and fibronectin, in the presence or absence of monensin. Pulse-chase studies were combined with subcellular fractionation of the fibroblasts to determine the rates of intracellular movement. We found that monensin did not significantly affect either the subcellular fractionation, or the distribution of organelle marker enzymes along the gradient, and that procollagen moved from a region of high buoyant density (primarily endoplasmic reticulum), through a mid-density region (primarily Golgi elements), to a region of low buoyant density before exiting from the cell. Monensin markedly decreased the rate of transit from one region to the other; kinetic analysis of the data showed a greater than 3-fold decrease in the rate constants for intracellular movement into the low buoyant density components and thence to the culture medium. The density gradient distribution of fibronectin was affected by monensin in similar fashion, indicating that it and procollagen probably follow the same intracellular route. Since monensin causes both proteins to accumulate in highest abundance in regions of the density gradient corresponding to Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum, the site of ionophore blockade appears to be within the Golgi apparatus. Thus, procollagen and fibronectin share a common intracellular route prior to entering the Golgi region of the cell.

Biological Transport↗

Collagen synthesis by liver stellate cells is released from its normal feedback regulation by acetaldehyde-induced modification of the carboxyl-terminal propeptide of procollagen.

Acetaldehyde stimulates collagen synthesis in stellate cells and forms adducts with procollagen in the liver of alcoholics. To assess the possibility that modification of the carboxyl-terminal propeptide by acetaldehyde affects its capacity to exert a feedback inhibition of collagen synthesis after splitting from procollagen, the propeptide was prepared by gel filtration of the bacterial collagenase digests of procollagen type I (obtained from 10(9) calvaria fibroblasts of newborn rats) and reacted with either 250 mM acetaldehyde and 100 mM CNBH3 or with 170 microM acetaldehyde without reducing agents, to mimick in vivo conditions. The unmodified propeptide produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of collagen synthesis by Ito cells. By contrast, the acetaldehyde-modified propeptide produced a lesser inhibition of procollagen synthesis in the cells, associated with a greater accumulation of collagen in the media. The incubation with 170 microM acetaldehyde and, to a lesser extent, 50 mM ethanol produced collagenase-digestible adducts in stellate cells. Thus, the formation of acetaldehyde adducts with the carboxyl-terminal propeptide of procollagen may account, at least in part, for the stimulatory effect of acetaldehyde on collagen synthesis by stellate cells and may lead to collagen accumulation through a decrease of the normal feedback regulation of collagen synthesis by the propeptide.

Acetaldehyde↗

Thrombin stimulates smooth muscle cell procollagen synthesis and mRNA levels via a PAR-1 mediated mechanism.

Thrombin is a serine protease involved in haemostasis which exerts a number of cellular effects, including stimulating mesenchymal cell migration, proliferation, and has been implicated both in normal wound healing and pathological conditions associated with hyperproliferation of smooth muscle cells such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. We hypothesize that thrombin, in addition to its proliferative effects, may also influence the deposition of matrix proteins at sites of vascular injury by directly stimulating smooth muscle cell procollagen production. 10 nM thrombin significantly stimulated rat aortic smooth muscle cell procollagen production by 34 +/- 3% compared to media control cells over a 48 h incubation period, and increased steady state alpha1(I) procollagen mRNA levels by up to 104 +/- 22%. These effects are mediated via interaction of thrombin with the PAR-1 receptor since TRAP (Thrombin Receptor Activating Peptide) stimulated procollagen production by 23 +/- 0.5%. In addition, conditioned medium from thrombin-treated cells stimulated procollagen production by 30 +/- 3% suggesting that thrombin is acting via the production and/or release of an autocrine mediator. These data suggest a novel role for thrombin in vascular wound healing and the development of pathological conditions associated with increased connective tissue deposition.

Animals↗

Cell-to-cell signaling in the regulation of procollagen expression in primary avian tendon cells.

High cell density is required for high procollagen expression (50% of total protein synthesis) in primary avian tendon (PAT) cells but the signaling mechanism that triggers this response has been difficult to decipher. By using a quantitative in situ hybridization assay for procollagen mRNA, cell density dependent changes in procollagen expression can be followed at the single cell level. PAT cells can then be shown to respond to the presence of their neighbors over approximately 1-mm distance. The cell density signal remains effective independent of the medium volume to cell ratio but becomes sensitive to dispersion and dilution when the medium is agitated. PAT cells respond to a reduction in cell density, when neighboring cells are scraped away, by outgrowth (approximately 1 mm) and reestablishment of a cell density gradient in cellular procollagen mRNA levels. However, removing neighboring cells while preventing migration off of their own extracellular matrix retards the drop in procollagen mRNA levels. The evidence, taken as a whole, is consistent with a model whereby the cell density signal is a loosely bound component of the cell layer thereby restricting its diffusion to two dimensions but making it susceptible to dispersion by medium agitation.

Animals↗

Procollagen peptidase: its mode of action on the native substrate.

Procollagen peptidase was recovered from the medium of human and mouse fibroblast cultures by precipitation with ammonium sulfate. The test substrate for the in vitro enzymatic reaction was radioactively-labeled, disulfide-linked procollagen prepared from the medium of human fibroblast cultures. The enzymatic digests were analyzed by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gets containing sodium dodecyl sulfate and urea. The human and mouse enzymes reacted with the substrate to generate the same intermediates and final products. Procollagen peptidase acts as an endopeptidase which cleaves each of the three procollagen chains in turn. The final products of the reaction are collagen and a three-chain, disulfide-linked fragment derived from the nonhelical aminoterminal residues of procollagen.

Animals↗

Characterization of procollagen-derived peptides unique to the precursor molecule.

A disulfide-bonded fragment with a molecular weight of about 100,000 was identified in the medium of cultured chick cranial bone and its derivation from procollagen was established by immunological criteria. The molecular weight of the fragment was reduced to 33,000 after cleavage of disulfide bonds, indicating a triple-stranded structure. The amino acid composition of the fragment lacked hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine and differed markedly from that of collagen in other respects. A similar but somewhat larger fragment was isolated after bacterial collagenase digestion of chick bone procollagen purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The characterization and comparison of these fragments further define the nature of the additional regions in procollagen and, when combined with information derived from studies of acid-extracted and dermatosparactic procollagens, support a mechanism for the conversion of procollagen to collagen which involves more than one proteolytic step.

Amino Acids↗

Evidence for procollagen, a biosynthetic precursors of collagen.

Incubation of rat calvaria for short times in the presence of a labeled amino acid revealed the existence of a collagen fraction (procollagen) that functions as a biosynthetic precursor of collagen. Procollagen contains an alpha1-like chain (pre-alpha1) that elutes earlier from CM-cellulose than does rat-bone alpha1 and has a molecular weight, estimated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis, of 120,000. A time-dependent conversion of pre-alpha1 to alpha1 was demonstrated by incubation of calvaria for periods varying from 9 to 60 min and by a pulse-chase experiment. Limited cleavage of procollagen with pepsin resulted in a molecule with a chain resembling alpha1 in chromatographic properties, molecular weight, and relative hydroxyproline and proline contents. Thus, conversion of procollagen to collagen is likely to occur in vivo by a proteolytic mechanism. The additional peptide sequences in procollagen may serve to initiate chain association in triple-helix formation, to facilitate molecular transport, and to inhibit intracellular fibrogenesis.

Animals↗

Procollagen: intermediate forms containing several types of peptide chains and non-collagen peptide extensions at NH2 and COOH ends.

A population of procollagen molecules has been isolated from the culture medium of a clonal line of calf dermatosparactic cells and shown to have the amino-acid composition, physical properties, and molecular structure consistent with collagen precursors. Although this procollagen population shares immunologic determinants with the procollagen obtained from dermatosparactic skin, it differs from the latter in aminoacid composition, in subunit properties, and by its content of both amino and carboxyl terminal non-collagen peptide appendages. We propose that the cell culture procollagen contains earlier biosynthetic forms of dermatosparactic procollagen.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

Identification of amino acid residues in bone morphogenetic protein-1 important for procollagen C-proteinase activity.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-1, which belongs to the tolloid subgroup of astacin-like zinc metalloproteinases, cleaves the C-propeptides of procollagen at the physiologic site and is, therefore, a procollagen C-proteinase (PCP). Cleavage occurs between a specific alanine or glycine residue (depending on the procollagen chain) and an invariant aspartic acid residue in each of the three chains of procollagen. To learn more about how BMP-1 exhibits PCP activity we mapped the primary structure of BMP-1 onto the x-ray crystal structure of astacin and identified residues in the metalloproteinase domain of BMP-1 for subsequent site-directed mutagenesis studies. Recombinant wild-type and mutant BMP-1 were expressed in COS-7 cells and assayed for PCP activity using type I procollagen as the substrate. We showed that substitution of alanine for Glu(94), which occurs in the HEXXH zinc-binding motif of BMP-1, abolishes PCP activity. Furthermore, mutation of residues Lys(87) and Lys(176), which are located in the S1' pocket of the enzyme and are therefore adjacent to the P1' residue in the substrate, reduced the proteolytic activity of BMP-1 by approximately 50%. A surprising observation was that mutation of Cys(66) reduced the activity to 20%, suggesting that this residue is crucial for activity. Further experiments showed that Cys(66) and Cys(63), which are located in the tolloid-specific sequence Cys(63)-Gly(64)-Cys(65)-Cys(66) in the active site, most likely form a disulfide bridge.

Amino Acid Sequence↗