The ability of proteins to self-assemble into macromolecules is fundamental to all living organisms. Some of the most complex of these structures are the fibrils formed from the triple helical collagen. The precise manner in which the monomers self-assemble into fibrils has not been defined. The present application is based on our observations that the telopeptides of collagen I bind to a specific region spanning amino acids 776 to 822 of the alpha1(1) chain, and that this interaction is critical for collagen self-assembly. Our recent results of the assembly of collagen I and collagen II mutants, strongly support our hypothesis that site-specific interactions between collagen molecules are critical for the fibril formation. We now use the gene-engineered collagen II and collagen IX to study the mechanism of the formation of homotypic and heterotypic fibrils in detail. The broad, long-term goal of this project is to understand fundamental principles of the formation of collagen fibrils in health and disease. The overall hypothesis is that the specific interaction between collagen monomers during fibril assembly is controlled by the binding of telopeptides to specific regions of the triple- helical domain. This binding is critical for the regulation of collagen fibril formation. Moreover, we hypothesize that assembly of heterotypic fibrils is also controlled by the site-specific formation. Moreover we hypothesize that assembly of heterotypic fibrils is also controlled by the site-specific interactions between different collagen types, and that mutations in fibrillar collagens change the site-specific interaction and, as a result, alter the structure of the extracellular matrix. To test the hypotheses, the following specific aims are proposed: (1) To elucidate a site-specific mechanism of the formation of homotypic and heterotypic collagen fibrils, (2) To determine how the site-specific interactions between collagen molecules regulate morphology of fibrils, kinetics and thermodynamics of collagen self-assembly, and (3) To analyze how mutations in fibrillar collagens affect the site-specific mechanism of collagen assembly. The proposed research will yield new information on collagen self-assembly structure of collagen fibrils. Results of the proposed studies will have a wide application in the areas where collagen fibrils play an important role. Examples include cell differentiations and proliferations, development, bone mineralization, tissue remodeling, fibrosis, tissue engineering, and therapy of the heritable diseases of connective tissue.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR048544-02
Application #
6622923
Study Section
Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Study Section (ORTH)
Program Officer
Tyree, Bernadette
Project Start
2002-05-13
Project End
2007-04-30
Budget Start
2003-05-01
Budget End
2004-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$190,363
Indirect Cost
Name
Thomas Jefferson University
Department
Dermatology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053284659
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19107
Fertala, Jolanta; Kostas, James; Hou, Cheryl et al. (2014) Testing the anti-fibrotic potential of the single-chain Fv antibody against the ?2 C-terminal telopeptide of collagen I. Connect Tissue Res 55:115-22
Barnes, Aileen M; Duncan, Geraldine; Weis, Maryann et al. (2013) Kuskokwim syndrome, a recessive congenital contracture disorder, extends the phenotype of FKBP10 mutations. Hum Mutat 34:1279-88
Fertala, Jolanta; Steplewski, Andrzej; Kostas, James et al. (2013) Engineering and characterization of the chimeric antibody that targets the C-terminal telopeptide of the ?2 chain of human collagen I: a next step in the quest to reduce localized fibrosis. Connect Tissue Res 54:187-96
Clarke, Douglas N; Al Ahmad, Abraham; Lee, Boyeon et al. (2012) Perlecan Domain V induces VEGf secretion in brain endothelial cells through integrin ?5?1 and ERK-dependent signaling pathways. PLoS One 7:e45257
Steplewski, Andrzej; Fertala, Andrzej (2012) Inhibition of collagen fibril formation. Fibrogenesis Tissue Repair 5 Suppl 1:S29
Lee, Boyeon; Clarke, Douglas; Al Ahmad, Abraham et al. (2011) Perlecan domain V is neuroprotective and proangiogenic following ischemic stroke in rodents. J Clin Invest 121:3005-23
Sweeney, Shawn M; Orgel, Joseph P; Fertala, Andrzej et al. (2008) Candidate cell and matrix interaction domains on the collagen fibril, the predominant protein of vertebrates. J Biol Chem 283:21187-97
Chung, Hye Jin; Steplewski, Andrzej; Chung, Kee Yang et al. (2008) Collagen fibril formation. A new target to limit fibrosis. J Biol Chem 283:25879-86
Hintze, Vera; Steplewski, Andrzej; Ito, Hidetoshi et al. (2008) Cells expressing partially unfolded R789C/p.R989C type II procollagen mutant associated with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia undergo apoptosis. Hum Mutat 29:841-51
Cabral, Wayne A; Makareeva, Elena; Letocha, Anne D et al. (2007) Y-position cysteine substitution in type I collagen (alpha1(I) R888C/p.R1066C) is associated with osteogenesis imperfecta/Ehlers-Danlos syndrome phenotype. Hum Mutat 28:396-405

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