Quantitation of type I and III collagens using electrophoresis of alpha chains and cyanogen bromide peptides

The methods of quantitating the relative amounts of type I and III collagens in samples containing crosslinked collagen chains were evaluated using electrophoresis of alpha chains and cyanogen bromide peptides. The densitometry areas of the alpha I(I) chains from type I collagen and the alpha I(III) chains from type III collagen were reduced because of the failure of the crosslinked chains to dissociate. However, the ratios of the unit densitometry areas of these chains (area of chain/micrograms type I or III collagen loaded) were constant for type I and III collagens prepared from the same samples of tissue. A calibration factor, which was the same for dermis and mitral valve, was derived to convert the densitometry area ratios to the weight ratios of type I to III collagens. In contrast, the densitometry areas of the alpha I(I) CB8 (type I collagen marker) and the alpha I(III) CB5 (type III collagen marker) were not reduced by crosslinked collagen chains. A calibration factor was also derived to convert the ratios of the densitometry areas of the marker peptides to weight ratios of type I to type III collagens. Almost identical results were obtained when electrophoresis of alpha chains and of cyanogen bromide peptides was used with these calibration factors to quantitate the relative amounts of type I and III collagens in tissue extracts which contained different amounts of crosslinked chains.     

Analysis of the heterogeneity of human collagens by two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.

The heterogeneity of the CNBr-cleavage peptides of human types I, II, III and V collagens were studied by using two-dimensional electrophoresis combining non-equilibrium pH-gradient-gel electrophoresis and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Specific 'maps' were produced by the peptides obtained from the chains of each type of collagen, and most peptides had at least three charged forms of the same molecular weight. Specific 'maps' were also produced by the peptides of types I, III and V collagens from insoluble dermis and the peptides of types I and V collagens from decalcified bone. The alpha 1(I) CB7 and alpha 1(I) CB8 and the alpha 2 CB4 peptides obtained from the type I collagens of these tissues contained the same number of charged components, but there was a relative increase in the more basic components in bone. Some aspects of the involvement of the alpha 1(I) CB6 and the alpha 1(III) CB9 peptides in cross-linkages were also studied. The recovery of the alpha 1(I) CB6 peptide from bone and dermis was decreased and the alpha 1(III) CB9 peptide was not detected in dermis. Additional peptides, which were probably cross-linked peptides involving the alpha 1(I) CB6 peptide, were also observed.     

Collagen composition of normal and myxomatous human mitral heart valves.

The collagens were studied in 13 normal and 19 myxomatous human mitral valves. The collagens of the valve were completely solubilized by using a method consisting of guanidinium chloride extraction, limited pepsin digestions and CNBr cleavage of the residue. The normal valves contained 74% type I, 24% type III and 2% type V collagen. The type I and type III collagens had similar solubility patterns, although only type I collagen was detected in the guanidinium chloride extract. Type V collagen was only detected in the first pepsin extract. The type I and III collagens had higher contents of hydroxylysine than did the same collagens from age-matched dermis. The two-dimensional electrophoretic 'maps' of CNBr-cleavage peptides showed low recoveries of the C-terminal alpha 1(I) CB6 and alpha 1(III) CB9 peptides, which are involved in forming intermolecular cross-linkages. Most of the reducible cross-linkages were present in large-Mr peptide complexes, and these complexes were shown by labelling with 125I to include the tyrosine-containing alpha 1(I) CB6 peptide. The myxomatous valves contained 67% type I, 31% type III and 2% type V collagens. There was a significant increase in the concentration of each type of collagen, which consisted of a 9% increase of type I collagen, a 53% increase of type III collagen and a 25% increase of type V collagen. The contents of hydroxylysine in type I and III collagens and the electrophoretic 'maps' of the CNBr-cleavage peptides involved in cross-linkages did not differ significantly from the results obtained from the normal valves. The biochemical findings suggest that there is an increased production of collagen, in particular type III collagen, and glycosaminoglycan as well as a proliferation of cells as part of a repair process in the myxomatous valves.     

Identification of cyanogen bromide peptides involved in intermolecular cross-linking of bovine type III collagen.

Cyanogn bromide peptides derived from bovine type III collagen and containing reducible cross-links were isolated and identified. Two peptides, alpha 1 (III)CB7 and alpha 1 (III)CB9B, from within the helical portion of the molecule were shown to contain the 'amino donor' residues cross-linked to non-helical 'aldehyde donor' residues in the formation of cross-links. This information, in conjunction with previously published data for the order of the cyanogen bromide peptides [Fietzek, Allman, Rauterberg & Wachter (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 84-86], suggests that in type III collagen intermolecular cross-links are located in the end-overlap regions, so as to stabilize a quarter-stagger arrangement of molecules within the fibre in a similar manner to that proposed for type I and type II collagens.     

Collagen defects in lethal perinatal osteogenesis imperfecta.

Quantitative and qualitative abnormalities of collagen were observed in tissues and fibroblast cultures from 17 consecutive cases of lethal perinatal osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). The content of type I collagen was reduced in OI dermis and bone and the content of type III collagen was also reduced in the dermis. Normal bone contained 99.3% type I and 0.7% type V collagen whereas OI bone contained a lower proportion of type I, a greater proportion of type V and a significant amount of type III collagen. The type III and V collagens appeared to be structurally normal. In contrast, abnormal type I collagen chains, which migrated slowly on electrophoresis, were observed in all babies with OI. Cultured fibroblasts from five babies produced a mixture of normal and abnormal type I collagens; the abnormal collagen was not secreted in two cases and was slowly secreted in the others. Fibroblasts from 12 babies produced only abnormal type I collagens and they were also secreted slowly. The slower electrophoretic migration of the abnormal chains was due to enzymic overmodification of the lysine residues. The distribution of the cyanogen bromide peptides containing the overmodified residues was used to localize the underlying structural abnormalities to three regions of the type I procollagen chains. These regions included the carboxy-propeptide of the pro alpha 1(I)-chain, the helical alpha 1(I) CB7 peptide and the helical alpha 1(I) CB8 and CB3 peptides. In one baby a basic charge mutation was observed in the alpha 1(I) CB7 peptide and in another baby a basic charge mutation was observed in the alpha 1(I) CB8 peptide. The primary defects in lethal perinatal OI appear to reside in the type I collagen chains. Type III and V collagens did not appear to compensate for the deficiency of type I collagen in the tissues.     

Platelet adhesion to collagen. Factors affecting Mg2(+)-dependent and bivalent-cation-independent adhesion.

Platelet adhesion to collagens immobilized on plastic has been measured, with the following results. (1) Human, but not rabbit, platelets adhered readily to pepsin-extracted monomeric collagens in an Mg2(+)-dependent manner. (2) Rabbit platelets adhered to a monomeric collagen extracted without pepsin by a process that was cation-independent; human platelet adhesion to this collagen exhibited a cation-independent element. (3) Human platelet adhesion to polymeric collagens, including intact native fibres and those reconstituted from pepsin-extracted monomeric collagens, exhibited appreciable cation-independence; adhesion of rabbit platelets to these collagens occurred only by a cation-independent process; pepsin treatment of the intact fibres caused a reduction in cation-independent binding. Two mechanisms of adhesion can therefore be distinguished, one Mg2(+)-dependent, expressed by human, but not rabbit, platelets, the other cation-independent and exhibited by platelets of both species. Mg2(+)-dependent and cation-independent adhesion sites are located within the triple helix of collagen, but the latter sites are only expressed in collagen in polymeric form. In neither case is the helical conformation of the sites essential for their binding activity. Cation-independent adhesion sites are also located in the pepsin-sensitive non-helical telopeptides of collagen and can be expressed in both monomeric and polymeric collagens. Chemical modification of collagen lysine residues indicates that specific lysine residues may be involved in Mg2(+)-dependent adhesion. Adhesion using human citrated platelet-rich plasma is Mg2(+)-independent. Plasma contains factors, conceivably the adhesive proteins fibronectin and von Willebrand factor, that promote the Mg2(+)-independent mechanism.     

Nonenzymatic glycation of type I collagen. The effects of aging on preferential glycation sites.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of aging on preferential sites of glucose adduct formation on type I collagen chains. Two CNBr peptides, one from each type of chain in the type I tropocollagen molecule, were investigated in detail: alpha 1(I)CB3 and alpha 2CB3-5. Together these peptides comprise approximately 25% of the total tropocollagen molecule. The CNBr peptides were purified from rat tail tendon, obtained from animals aged 6, 18, and 36 months, by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sugar adducts were radiolabeled by reduction with NaB3H4. Glycated tryptic peptides were prepared from tryptic digests of alpha 2CB3-5 and alpha 1(I)CB3 by boronate affinity chromatography and HPLC. Peptides were identified by sequencing and by compositional analysis. Preferential sites of glycation were observed in both CB3 and alpha 2CB3-5. Of the 5 lysine residues in CB3, Lys-434 was the favored glycation site. Of the 18 lysine residues and 1 hydroxylysine residue in alpha 2CB3-5, 3 residues (Lys-453, Lys-479, and Lys-924) contained more than 80% of the glucose adducts on the peptide. Preferential glycation sites were highly conserved with aging. In collagen that had been glycated in vitro, the relative distribution of glucose adducts in old animals differed from that of young animals. In vitro experiments suggest that primary structure is the major determinant of preferential glycation sites but that higher order structure may influence the relative distribution of glucose adducts among these preferred sites.     

The alpha 2 beta 1 integrin cell surface collagen receptor binds to the alpha 1 (I)-CB3 peptide of collagen

We have previously shown that platelets adhere to collagen substrates via a Mg2(+)-dependent mechanism mediated by the surface glycoprotein Ia-IIa (human leukocyte very late activation protein 2, alpha 2 beta 1 integrin) complex. The adhesion is specific for collagen and is supported by collagen types I, II, III, IV, and VI. Several other members of the integrin family of adhesive protein receptors recognize discrete linear amino acid sequences within their adhesive glycoprotein ligands. Experiments with both intact platelets and with liposomes containing the purified receptor complex indicated that the alpha 2 beta 1 receptor recognized denatured type I collagen in a Mg2(+)-dependent manner. To further localize the binding site, the alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains of type I collagen were purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography and tested as adhesive substrates. Both the alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) chains effectively supported Mg2(+)-dependent platelet adhesion. The purified alpha 1(I) collagen chain was then subjected to cleavage with cyanogen bromide, and the resultant peptides were separated by chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose. Only the alpha 1(I)-CB3 fragment supported Mg2(+)-dependent platelet adhesion. The monoclonal antibody P1H5 which recognizes an epitope on the alpha 2 subunit of the integrin receptor and which inhibits the adhesion of both intact platelets and liposomes bearing the purified receptor to collagen also inhibited platelet adhesion to the alpha 1(I)-CB3 fragment. These results indicate that the alpha 2 beta 1 receptor recognizes a sequence of amino acids present in the alpha 1(I)-CB3 fragment of type I collagen. An identical or similar sequence likely mediates binding of the receptor to other collagen polypeptides.     

Integrin activation state determines selectivity for novel recognition sites in fibrillar collagens

Only three recognition motifs, GFOGER, GLOGER, and GASGER, all present in type I collagen, have been identified to date for collagen-binding integrins, such as alpha(2)beta(1). Sequence alignment was used to investigate the occurrence of related motifs in other human fibrillar collagens, and located a conserved array of novel GER motifs within their triple helical domains. We compared the integrin binding properties of synthetic triple helical peptides containing examples of such sequences (GLSGER, GMOGER, GAOGER, and GQRGER) or the previously identified motifs. Recombinant inserted (I) domains of integrin subunits alpha(1), alpha(2) and alpha(11) all bound poorly to all motifs other than GFOGER and GLOGER. Similarly, alpha(2)beta(1) -containing resting platelets adhered well only to GFOGER and GLOGER, while ADP-activated platelets, HT1080 cells and two active alpha(2)I domain mutants (E318W, locked open) bound all motifs well, indicating that affinity modulation determines the sequence selectivity of integrins. GxO/SGER peptides inhibited platelet adhesion to collagen monomers with order of potency F >/= L >/= M > A. These results establish GFOGER as a high affinity sequence, which can interact with the alpha(2)I domain in the absence of activation and suggest that integrin reactivity of collagens may be predicted from their GER content.     

Characterization of pepsin-solubilized bovine heart-valve collagen.

Collagens extracted from heart valves by using limited pepsin digestion were fractionated by differential salt precipitation. Collagen types were identified by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, amino acid analysis and cleavage with CNBr. Heart-valve collagen was heterogeneous in nature, consisting of a mixture of type-I and type-III collagens. The identity of type-III collagen was established on the basis of (a) insolubility in 1.7 M-NaC1 at neutral pH, (b) behaviour of this collagen fraction on gel electrophoresis under reducing and non-reducing conditions, (c) amino acid analysis showing a hydroxyproline/proline ratio greater than 1, and (d) profile of CNBr peptides on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis showing a peak characteristic for type-III collagen containing peptides alpha1(III)CB8 and alpha1(III)CB3. In addition to types-I and -III collagen, a collagen polypeptide not previously described in heart valves was identified. This polypeptide represented approx. 30% of the collagen fraction precipitated at 4.0 M-NaCl, it migrated between beta- and alpha1-collagen chains on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and its electrophoretic behaviour was not affected by disulphide-bond reduction. All collagen fractions from the heart valves contained increased amounts of hydroxylysine when compared with type-I and -III collagens from other tissues. The presence of beta- and gamma-chains and higher aggregates in pepsin-solubilized collagen indicated that these collagens were highly cross-linked and suggested that some of these cross-links involved the triple-helical regions of the molecule. It is likely that the higher hydroxylysine content of heart-valve collagen is responsible for the high degree of intermolecular cross-linking and may be the result of an adaptive mechanism for the specialized function of these tissues.     

A novel binding site in collagen type III for integrins alpha1beta1 and alpha2beta1

Previously identified high affinity integrin-binding motifs in collagens, GFOGER and GLOGER, are not present in type III collagen. Here, we first characterized the binding of recombinant I domains from integrins alpha(1) and alpha(2) (alpha(1)I and alpha(2)I) to fibrillar collagen types I-III and showed that each I domain bound to the three types of collagens with similar affinities. Using rotary shadowing followed by electron microscopy, we identified a high affinity binding region in human type III collagen recognized by alpha(1)I and alpha(2)I. Examination of the region revealed the presence of two sequences that contain the critical GER motif, GROGER and GAOGER. Collagen-like peptides containing these two motifs were synthesized, and their triple helical nature was confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Experiments show that the GROGER-containing peptide was able to bind both alpha(1)I and alpha(2)I with high affinity and effectively inhibit the binding of alpha(1)I and alpha(2)I to type III and I collagens, whereas the GAOGER-containing peptide was considerably less effective. Furthermore, the GROGER-containing peptide supported adhesion of human lung fibroblast cells when coated on a culture dish. Thus, we have identified a novel high affinity binding sequence for the collagen-binding integrin I domains.     

Prolyl hydroxylation of collagen type I is required for efficient binding to integrin alpha 1 beta 1 and platelet glycoprotein VI but not to alpha 2 beta 1

Collagen is a potent adhesive substrate for cells, an event essentially mediated by the integrins alpha 1 beta 1 and alpha 2 beta 1. Collagen fibrils also bind to the integrin alpha 2 beta 1 and the platelet receptor glycoprotein VI to activate and aggregate platelets. The distinct triple helical recognition motifs for these receptors, GXOGER and (GPO)n, respectively, all contain hydroxyproline. Using unhydroxylated collagen I produced in transgenic plants, we investigated the role of hydroxyproline in the receptor-binding properties of collagen. We show that alpha 2 beta 1 but not alpha 1 beta 1 mediates cell adhesion to unhydroxylated collagen. Soluble recombinant alpha 1 beta 1 binding to unhydroxylated collagen is considerably reduced compared with bovine collagens, but binding can be restored by prolyl hydroxylation of recombinant collagen. We also show that platelets use alpha 2 beta 1 to adhere to the unhydroxylated recombinant molecules, but the adhesion is weaker than on fully hydroxylated collagen, and the unhydroxylated collagen fibrils fail to aggregate platelets. Prolyl hydroxylation is thus required for binding of collagen to platelet glycoprotein VI and to cells by alpha 1 beta 1. These observations give new insights into the molecular basis of collagen-receptor interactions and offer new selective applications for the recombinant unhydroxylated collagen I.     

Affinity of integrins for damaged extracellular matrix: alpha v beta 3 binds to denatured collagen type I through RGD sites.

Cellular adhesion receptors termed integrins play an important role in the interaction of cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) during wound healing, development and tumorigenesis. During such events, ECM may become modified or damaged which could alter the types of adhesive signals presented to cells. In this study, cell adhesion and affinity chromatography experiments were performed to determine whether different integrins interact with denatured versus native ECM molecules. Human melanoma cells were found to adhere to denatured versus native type I collagen through different integrins. The cells adhere to denatured collagen through the alpha v beta 3 integrin and this interaction is inhibited by an RGD containing peptide but not by a control peptide. In contrast, adhesion to native type I collagen appears to be mediated by several beta 1 integrins and thus, is not inhibited by either alpha v beta 3 antibodies or the RGD peptide. Affinity chromatography reveals a marked increase in the quantity of alpha v beta 3 isolated on denatured collagen versus native collagen-sepharose. These results suggest that RGD sites in type I collagen may be masked and that they become exposed upon denaturation of the molecule. Wounding of extracellular matrix may, thus, expose RGD sites in collagens that facilitate the interaction of cells with damaged extracellular matrix through RGD binding integrins.     

Mapping of SPARC/BM-40/osteonectin-binding sites on fibrillar collagens

The 33-kDa matrix protein SPARC (BM-40, osteonectin) binds several collagen types with moderate affinity. The collagen-binding site resides in helix alphaA of the extracellular calcium-binding domain of SPARC and is partially masked by helix alphaC. Previously, we found that the removal of helix alphaC caused a 10-fold increase in the affinity of SPARC for collagen, and we identified amino acids crucial for binding by site-directed mutagenesis. In this study, we used rotary shadowing, CNBr peptides, and synthetic peptides to map binding sites of SPARC onto collagens I, II, and III. Rotary shadowing and electron microscopy of SPARC-collagen complexes identified a major binding site approximately 180 nm from the C terminus of collagen. SPARC binding was also detected with lower frequency near the matrix metalloproteinase cleavage site. These data fit well with our analysis of SPARC binding to CNBr peptides, denaturation of which abolished binding, indicating triple-helical conformation of collagen to be essential. SPARC binding was substantially decreased in two of seven alpha2(I) mutant procollagen I samples and after N-acetylation of Lys/Hyl side chains in wild-type collagen. Synthetic peptides of collagen III were used to locate the binding sites, and we found SPARC binding activity in a synthetic triple-helical peptide containing the sequence GPOGPSGPRGQOGVMGFOGPKGNDGAO (where O indicates 4-hydroxyproline), with affinity for SPARC comparable with that of procollagen III. This sequence is conserved among alpha chains of collagens I, II, III, and V. In vitro collagen fibrillogenesis was delayed in the presence of SPARC, suggesting that SPARC might modulate collagen fibril assembly in vivo.     

The collagen-binding A-domains of integrins alpha(1)beta(1) and alpha(2)beta(1) recognize the same specific amino acid sequence, GFOGER, in native (triple-helical) collagens

We have previously assigned an integrin alpha(2)beta(1)-recognition site in collagen I to the sequence, GFOGERGVEGPOGPA (O = Hyp), corresponding to residues 502-516 of the alpha(1)(I) chain and located in the fragment alpha(1)(I)CB3 (Knight, C. G., Morton, L. F., Onley, D. J., Peachey, A. R., Messent, A. J., Smethurst, P. A., Tuckwell, D. S., Farndale, R. W., and Barnes, M. J. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 33287-33294). In this study, we show that recognition is entirely contained within the six-residue sequence GFOGER. This sequence, when in triple-helical conformation, readily supports alpha(2)beta(1)-dependent cell adhesion and exhibits divalent cation-dependent binding of isolated alpha(2)beta(1) and recombinant alpha(2) A-domain, being at least as active as the parent collagen. Replacement of E by D causes loss of recognition. The same sequence binds integrin alpha(1) A-domain and supports integrin alpha(1)beta(1)-mediated cell adhesion. Triple-helical GFOGER completely inhibits alpha(2) A-domain binding to collagens I and IV and alpha(2)beta(1)-dependent adhesion of platelets and HT 1080 cells to these collagens. It also fully inhibits alpha(1) A-domain binding to collagen I and strongly inhibits alpha(1)beta(1)-mediated adhesion of Rugli cells to this collagen but has little effect on either alpha1 A-domain binding or adhesion of Rugli cells to collagen IV. We conclude that the sequence GFOGER represents a high-affinity binding site in collagens I and IV for alpha(2)beta(1) and in collagen I for alpha(1)beta(1). Other high-affinity sites in collagen IV mediate its recognition of alpha(1)beta(1).     

Proteins of the periodontium. Identification of collagens with the [alpha1(I)]2alpha2 and [alpha1(III)]3 structures in bovine periodontal ligament.

Insoluble collagen was prepared from bovine periodontal ligament. Isolation and characterization of CNBr peptides originating from the alpha1(I), alpha2, and alpha1(III) chains showed that the tissue contained both type I and type III collagens. Further evidence for the presence of type III collagen was obtained by the isolation of alpha1(III) chains from pepsin-treated ligament collagen, with properties similar to those of human alpha1(III) chains. Estimates based on the amounts of certain CNBr peptides indicated that about one-fifth of the collagen of periodontal ligament is type III, the remainder being type I collagen.     

The human immune response to reconstituted bovine collagen

The human immune response to bovine dermal collagen was characterized through histologic, serologic, and immunoblotting methods. Collagen-sensitive patients were identified by hypersensitivity to intradermal exposure to ZYDERM Collagen Implant--a pepsin-solubilized, reconstituted, bovine dermal collagen. Biopsies of test sites in the forearm were obtained from several collagen-sensitive patients. Histologic examination revealed an implant-associated palisading foreign body granuloma. The lesion also contained a mixed cell infiltrate of histiocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. Sera were collected from patients who developed erythema or induration at intradermal test or treatment sites, and were evaluated for antibodies to bovine dermal collagen by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera with anti-collagen antibodies were further characterized in this study. The circulating antibodies were reactive with both native and heat-denatured bovine dermal collagen. By using purified alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) polypeptides, these sera were found to have antibodies reactive with both alpha-chains. Each alpha-chain was fragmented by using cyanogen bromide (CB). The CB peptides were electrophoretically separated, and these sera were evaluated for antibodies to the major fragments by using an immunoblotting technique. Of the sera evaluated by this method, 89% (23/26) had antibodies to alpha 1-CB6; 77% (20/26) had antibodies to alpha 2-CB4; and 65% (17/26) had antibodies reactive with both CB fragments. In addition, most sera (77%) contained antibodies reactive with two or more (up to five) of the major CB peptides. The least antigenic fragment was alpha 2-CB3,5 (8%). In addition, these sera had antibody activity against both native and heat-denaturated bovine types III and II collagens. Little or no interspecies (rat or guinea pig) cross-reactivity (types I and II) was detected. Furthermore, these sera did not have antibodies against human types I, II, and III collagens.     

A structural mutation of the collagen alpha 1(I)CB7 peptide in lethal perinatal osteogenesis imperfecta

Structurally abnormal type I collagen was identified in the dermis, bone, and cultured fibroblasts obtained from a baby with lethal perinatal osteogenesis imperfecta. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the CNBr peptides demonstrated that the alpha 1(I)CB7 peptide from the alpha 1(I)-chain of type I collagen existed in a normal form and a mutant form with a more basic charge distribution. This heterozygous peptide defect was not detected in the collagens from either parent. The defect was localized to a 224-residue region at the NH2 terminus of the alpha 1(I)CB7 peptide by mammalian collagenase digestion. Analysis of unhydroxylated collagens produced in cell culture indicated that the mutant alpha 1(I)CB7 migrated faster on electrophoresis suggesting that the abnormality may be a small deletion or a mutation that alters sodium dodecyl sulfate binding. The post-translational hydroxylation of lysine residues was increased in the CB7 peptide and also in peptides CB3 and CB8 which are toward the NH2 terminus of the alpha 1(I)-chain. The COOH-terminal CB6 peptide was normally hydroxylated. These findings support the proposal that the lysine overhydroxylation resulted from a perturbation of helix propagation from the COOH to NH2 terminus of the collagen trimer caused by the structural defect in alpha 1(I)CB7.     

Quantitation of type I, III, and V collagens in human tissue samples by high-performance liquid chromatography of selected cyanogen bromide peptides

A method to determine the proportions of the major fiber-forming collagens (types I, III, and V) in noncartilaginous human tissues is presented. The procedure relies on direct solubilization of tissue collagen as cyanogen bromide peptides. The peptides are subjected to cation exchange chromatography followed by gel permeation chromatography in a manner consistent with the rapid resolution and quantitation of relatively low-molecular-weight marker peptides for each collagen. The marker peptides utilized for type I, III, and V collagens are alpha 1 (I)-CB2, alpha 1 (III)-CB2, and alpha 1 (V)-CB1, respectively. Quantitation of the peptides is attained as a function of ultraviolet absorbance during gel permeation chromatography. The nature of the marker peptides, the use of high-performance liquid chromatography techniques, and quantitation of the peptides by ultraviolet absorbance renders the method suitably rapid, sensitive, and accurate for routine evaluations of collagen composition. The utility of the method is illustrated in the presentation of analyses on specimens of placental membranes and blood vessel walls.     

The characterization of type I and type III collagens from human peripheral nerve.

The normal chemical features of peripheral nerve collagens were determined on postmortem, histologically normal adult human femoral nerve. 1. Genetically distinct type I, [alpha1(I)2]alpha2, and type III, [alpha1(III)]3, were isolated by differential salt precipitation and the component subunit chains, alphal(I), alpha2 and alphal(III) were obtained by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. 2. The molecular weight of alphal(I) and alpha2 of type I collagen was 95 000 and that for type III was 280 000. Reduction of type III with dithiothreitol yielded expected alpha1(III) chains of 95 000 molecular weight. 3. The amino acid composition of the three collagen chains, alpha1(I), alpha2, and alpha1(III), was the same as previously reported values for the corresponding chains from human skin except for slightly elevated hydroxylysine content. 4. Peripheral nerve collagen was found to contain 81% type I collagen and 19% type III. These results indicate that peripheral nerve collagen characteristics closely simulate that of human skin and differ from that of human aorta and other parenchymal organs. These data will permit a chemical analysis for possible abnormalities of peripheral nerve collagen in various neurogenic disorders.