The proteoglycans aggrecan and Versican form networks with fibulin-2 through their lectin domain binding

J Biol Chem. 2001 Jan 12;276(2):1253-61. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M006783200.

Abstract

Aggrecan, versican, neurocan, and brevican are important components of the extracellular matrix in various tissues. Their amino-terminal globular domains bind to hyaluronan, but the function of their carboxyl-terminal globular domains has long remained elusive. A picture is now emerging where the C-type lectin motif of this domain mediates binding to other extracellular matrix proteins. We here demonstrate that aggrecan, versican, and brevican lectin domains bind fibulin-2, whereas neurocan does not. As expected for a C-type lectin, the interactions are calcium-dependent, with K(D) values in the nanomolar range as measured by surface plasmon resonance. Solid phase competition assays with previously identified ligands demonstrated that fibulin-2 and tenascin-R bind the same site on the proteoglycan lectin domains. Fibulin-1 has affinity for the common site on versican but may bind to a different site on the aggrecan lectin domain. By using deletion mutants, the interaction sites for aggrecan and versican lectin domains were mapped to epidermal growth factor-like repeats in domain II of fibulin-2. Affinity chromatography and solid phase assays confirmed that also native full-length aggrecan and versican bind the lectin domain ligands. Electron microscopy confirmed the mapping and demonstrated that hyaluronan-aggrecan complexes can be cross-linked by the fibulins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aggrecans
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / chemistry*
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / metabolism*
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / ultrastructure
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Dimerization
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / chemistry*
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Kinetics
  • Lectins
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Mammals
  • Proteoglycans / chemistry*
  • Proteoglycans / metabolism*
  • Proteoglycans / ultrastructure
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Versicans

Substances

  • Aggrecans
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Lectins
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Proteoglycans
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • fibulin 2
  • Versicans
  • Alkaline Phosphatase