The alpha 4(IV) chain of basement membrane collagen. Isolation of cDNAs encoding bovine alpha 4(IV) and comparison with other type IV collagens.

Renal basement membranes are believed to contain five distinct type IV collagens. An understanding of the specific roles of these collagens and the specificities of their interactions will be aided by knowledge of their comparative structures. Genes for alpha 1(IV), alpha 2(IV), alpha 3(IV), and alpha 5(IV) have been cloned and the deduced peptide sequences compared. A fifth chain, alpha 4(IV), has been identified in glomerular and other basement membranes. Using a polymerase chain reaction-based strategy and short known peptide sequences from the noncollagenous domain (NC1), we have cloned and characterized partial bovine cDNAs of alpha 4(IV). Sequence analysis shows that this molecule has characteristic features of type IV collagens including an NH2-terminal Gly-X-Y domain which is interrupted at several points and a COOH-terminal NC1 domain with 12 cysteine residues in positions identical to those of other type IV collagens. Within the NC1 domain bovine alpha 4(IV) has 70, 59, 58, and 53% amino acid identity with human alpha 2(IV), alpha 1(IV), alpha 5(IV), and alpha 3(IV), respectively. Alignment of the peptides also shows that alpha 4(IV) is most closely related to alpha 2(IV). Nevertheless, in the extreme COOH-terminal region of the NC1 domain there are structural features that are unique to alpha 4(IV). Cloning of the region of alpha 4(IV) that encodes the NC1 domain allows comparison of all five type IV collagens and highlights certain regions that are likely to be important in the specificities of NC1-NC1 interactions and in other discriminant functions of these molecules.     

Glomerular basement membrane: evidence for collagenous domain of the alpha 3 and alpha 4 chains of collagen IV

A collagenous component(s) of Mr = 60K was extracted from glomerular basement membrane with urea and was purified. Upon digestion, it yielded a collagenase-resistant fragment(s) of Mr = 23.5K. Both component and fragment showed immunochemical identity with the noncollagenous domains of the new alpha 3 & alpha 4 chains of collagen IV. The component is characterized by a collagenous domain of about 280 residues and a noncollagenous domain of about 250 residues. These findings further establish these new chains as distinct entities of collagen IV.     

Complete primary structure of the alpha 1-chain of human basement membrane (type IV) collagen

We have determined the primary structure of the alpha 1(IV)-chain of human type IV collagen by nucleotide sequencing of overlapping cDNA clones that were isolated from a human placental cDNA library. The present data provide the sequence of 295 amino acids not previously determined. Altogether, the alpha 1(IV)-chain contains 1642 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 157625 Da. There are 1413 residues in the collagenous domain and 229 amino acids in the carboxy-terminal globular domain. The human alpha 1(IV)-chain contains a total of 21 interruptions in the collagenous Gly-X-Y repeat sequence. These interruptions vary in length between two and eleven residues. The alpha 1(IV)-chain contains four cysteine residues in the triple-helical domain, four cysteines in the 15-residue long noncollagenous sequence at the amino-terminus and 12 cysteines in the carboxy-terminal NC-domain.     

Differential expression of mouse alpha5(IV) and alpha6(IV) collagen genes in epithelial basement membranes

We first completed the primary structure of the mouse alpha5(IV) and alpha6(IV) chains, from which synthetic peptides were produced and a chain-specific monoclonal antibodies were raised. Expression of collagen IV genes in various basement membranes underlying specific organ epithelia was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining using these monoclonal antibodies and other antibodies from human and bovine sequences. It was possible to predict the presence of the three collagen IV molecules: [alpha1(IV)](2) alpha2(IV), alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV), and [alpha5(IV)](2)alpha6(IV). In skin basement membrane two of the three forms, [alpha1(IV)](2)alpha2(IV) and [alpha5(IV)](2)alpha6(IV), were detected. The alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) molecule was observed as the major form in glomerulus, alveolus, and choroid plexus, where basement membranes function as filtering units. The molecular form [alpha5(IV)](2)alpha6(IV) was present in basement membranes in tubular organs such as the epididymis, where the tubes need to expand in diameter. Thus, the distribution of the basement membranes with different molecular composition is consistent with tissue-specific function.     

Identification of the Goodpasture antigen as the alpha 3(IV) chain of collagen IV

The organizational relationship between the recently identified alpha 3 chain of basement membrane collagen (Butkowski, R.J., Langeveld, J.P.M., Wieslander, J., Hamilton, J., and Hudson, B.G. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 7874-7877) and collagen IV was determined. This was accomplished by the identification of subunits in hexamers of the NC1 domain of collagen IV that were immunoprecipitated with antibodies prepared against subunits M1, corresponding to alpha 1(IV)NC1 and alpha 2(IV)NC1, and M2, corresponding to alpha 3NC1, and by amino acid sequence analysis. The presence of at least two distinct types of hexamers was revealed, one enriched in M1 and the other enriched in M2, but in both types, M1 and M2 coexist. Evidence was also obtained for the existence of heterodimers comprised of M1 and M2. These results indicate that M2 is an integral component of the NC1 hexamer of collagen IV. The amino acid sequence of the NH2-terminal region of M2 was found to be highly related to the collagenous-NC1 junctional region of the alpha 1 chain of collagen IV. Therefore, M2 is designated alpha 3(IV)NC1 and its parent chain alpha 3(IV). These findings lead to a new concept about the structure of collagen IV: namely, 1) collagen IV is comprised of a third chain (alpha 3) together with the two classical ones (alpha 1 and alpha 2); the alpha 3(IV) chain exists within the same triple-helical molecule together with the alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains and/or within a separate triple-helical molecule, exclusive of alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains, but connected through the NC1 domains to the classical triple-helical molecule comprised of alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains. Additionally, a portion of those triple-helical molecules exclusive of alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains may be connected to each other through their NC1 domains; and 3) the epitope to which the major reactivity of autoantibodies are targeted in glomerular basement membrane in patients with Goodpasture syndrome is localized to the NC1 domain of the alpha 3(IV) chain.     

Goodpasture syndrome. Localization of the epitope for the autoantibodies to the carboxyl-terminal region of the alpha 3(IV) chain of basement membrane collagen.

The autoantibodies of patients with Goodpasture syndrome are primarily targeted to the noncollagenous (NC1) domain of the alpha 3(IV) chain of basement membrane collagen (Saus, J., Wieslander, J., Langeveld, J. P. M., Quinones, S., and Hudson, B. G. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 13374-13380). In the present study, the location of the Goodpasture epitope in human alpha 3NC1 was determined, and its structure was partially characterized. This was achieved by identification of regions of alpha 3NC1 which are candidates for the epitope and which are structurally unique among the five known homologous NC1 domains (alpha 1-alpha 5); amino acids that are critical for Goodpasture antibody binding, by selective chemical modifications; and regions that are critical for Goodpasture antibody binding, by synthesis of 12 alpha 3NC1 peptides and measurement of their antibody binding capacity. The carboxyl-terminal region, residues 198-233, was identified as the most likely region for the epitope. By experiment, lysine and cysteine were identified as critical amino acids for antibody binding. Three synthetic peptides were found to inhibit Goodpasture antibody binding to alpha 3NC1 markedly: a 36-mer (residues 198-233), a 12-mer (residues 222-233), and a 5-mer (residues 229-233). Together, these results strongly indicate that the Goodpasture epitope is localized to the carboxyl-terminal region of alpha 3NC1, encompassing residues 198-233 as the primary antibody interaction site and that its structure is discontinuous. These findings provide a conceptual framework for future studies to elucidate a more complete epitope structure by sequential replacement of residues encompassing the epitope using cDNA expression products and peptides synthesized chemically.     

Epidermal cells adhere preferentially to type IV (basement membrane) collagen

Epidermal cells from adult guinea pig skin attach and differentiate preferentially on substrates of type IV (basement membrane) collagen, compared to those of types I--III collagen. In contrast, guinea pig dermal fibroblasts attach equally well to all four collagen substrates. Fibronectin mediates the attachment of fibroblasts but not of epidermal cells to collagen.     

A peptide of the alpha3 chain of type IV collagen protects basement membrane against damage by PMN.

We have shown that basement membrane (BM) collagen (type IV), and specifically the peptide CNYYSNSYSFWLASLNPER (a.a. 185-203), from the non-collagenous domain of the alpha3 chain inhibits PMN. We examined the role of this peptide on PMN damage to BM in a vessel wall model. The presence of the endothelial monolayer as well as treatment of PMN with the alpha3(IV) 185-203 peptide reduced damage to BM by non-activated but not by activated PMN. The damage inhibition is unique to the alpha3(IV) peptide and not exhibited by comparable alpha1(IV) and alpha2(IV) chain peptides. A shorter peptide alpha3(IV) 185-191, containing the -SNS- triplet, reduced damage, whereas the one lacking the triplet, residues 194-203, was not effective. The CD47-alphavbeta3 integrin complex is the receptor for the alpha3(IV) peptide. Incubation of PMN with CD47 reactive mAb followed by the alpha3(IV) peptide abolished its protective effect on BM damage.     

Properties of the collagenous domain of the alpha 3(IV) chain, the Goodpasture antigen, of lens basement membrane collagen. Selective cleavage of alpha (IV) chains with retention of their triple helical structure and noncollagenous domain

A third chain, alpha 3(IV), of basement membrane collagen was recently discovered and was identified as the primary target for the autoantibodies of patients with Goodpasture syndrome (Saus, J., Wieslander, J., Langeveld, J. P. M., Quinones, S., and Hudson, B. G. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 13374-13380). In the present study, this chain was excised in the form of a truncated promoter by cleavage of basement membrane with Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase and characterized. The triple helical structure and NC1 domain were retained. Elastase selectively cleaved at a site within the triple helical domain of the alpha 3 chain that is distinct from the cleavage site of the alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains. The truncated alpha 3 chain was found to contain 1460 residues, of which 1225 comprise the collagenous domain, and is cross-linked within this domain by disulfide bonds, forming a high Mr complex (greater than 300,000). Truncated protomers with a length of 340 nm corresponding to the theoretical length for the truncated alpha 3 chain were observed by electron microscopy as suprastructures in which the triple helical domains of three protomers were interwined. These protomers were also connected to each other and to the 140-nm protomers that appear to be comprised of the alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains. These results extended the known length of the alpha 3 chain by about 1000 residues and suggested that protomers of this chain self-associate through interactions between their triple helical domains and between their NC1 domains.     

Glomerular basement membrane. Identification of dimeric subunits of the noncollagenous domain (hexamer) of collagen IV and the Goodpasture antigen

The noncollagenous (NC1) domain hexamer of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) collagen is composed of a multiplicity of monomeric and dimeric subunits, and specific subunits are the targets for anti-GBM autoantibodies of patients with Goodpasture (GP) syndrome. The identity of GBM monomers has been established and the alpha 3(IV)NC1 monomer identified as the one that binds GP antibodies (Gunwar, S., Saus, J., Noelken, M. E., and Hudson, B. G. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 5466-5469). In the present study, the chain origin of 25 dimeric components and the identity of those that bound the anti-GBM antibodies from two GP patients were determined. This was accomplished by NH2-terminal sequence analysis and immunoblotting analysis of dimeric components that were resolved by two-dimensional electrophoresis in combination with high pressure liquid chromatography. The results revealed that (a) the components are mainly homodimers of the NC1 domains of alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, and probably alpha 5 chains of collagen IV, reflecting a specificity of promoter-promoter association and (b) each homodimer had several size and charge isoforms. The GP antibodies bound exclusively to both alpha 3(IV)NC1 monomers and dimers and not to other basement membrane constituents. These findings provided new insights about the structure of GBM collagen and together with our previous findings firmly established the alpha 3(IV) chain as the target for the anti-GBM antibodies that mediate glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage in patients with Goodpasture syndrome.     

Mutations in the alpha 2(IV) basement membrane collagen gene of Caenorhabditis elegans produce phenotypes of differing severities.

Type IV collagen forms a network that provides the major structural support of basement membranes. We have determined the nucleotide alterations and phenotypes of 17 mutant alleles of the Caenorhabditis elegans alpha 2(IV) collagen gene let-2. All 17 mutations are within the triple helical (Gly-X-Y) repeat domain of the molecule. Fifteen of the mutations are replacements of Gly-X-Y repeat glycines with aspartate, glutamate or arginine, and they cause a wide range of phenotypes. The mildest alleles are nearly wild-type at 15 and 20 degrees C but embryonic lethal at 25 degrees C, while the most severe allele is embryonic lethal at all three temperatures. Mutations resulting in severe phenotypes are generally located in areas of lower calculated thermal stability of the type IV collagen molecule. An alanine to threonine substitution at position X of a Gly-X-Y triplet immediately following an interruption results in a severe phenotype. This mutation is unusual because substitutions at positions X or Y have not generally been found to cause strong phenotypes in C. elegans or human collagens. An intron splice acceptor mutation causes a strict embryonic lethal phenotype, but does not completely abolish gene function. Pairs of independent mutations affect each of three glycines, indicating a non-random distribution of mutations in the molecule. It is suggested that this clustering results because many glycine substitutions may cause dominant lethal or sterile phenotypes.     

Isolation and characterization of pepsin-solubilized human basement membrane (type IV) collagen peptides

Native type IV collagen was isolated from human placental tissue by pepsin digestion, fractional salt precipitation, reduction and alkylation, a second pepsin digestion, and chromatography on diethylaminoethyl- and carboxymethyl-cellulose. After denaturation, 10 distinct peptides were isolated from this material by molecular sieve, ion-exchange, and high-performance liquid chromatography. All of the peptides were found to have amino acid compositions characteristic of type IV collagen. Analysis of the eight major peptides by amino-terminal amino acid sequencing and by cyanogen bromide and tryptic peptide mapping has revealed the manner in which they are derived from type IV collagen. Pepsin liberates two large peptides by attacking non-triple-helical regions, one derived from the alpha 1 (IV) chain (F2, Mr 90 000) and one derived from the alpha 2 (IV) chain (F3, Mr 75 000). The alpha 1 (IV)-derived F2 peptide is also represented in the pepsin digest by amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal subfragments [F4c (Mr 41 000) and F4a (Mr 60 000)], as is the alpha 2 (IV)-derived F3 peptide [F5 (Mr 28 000) and F4b (Mr 50 000), respectively]. These findings indicate that the molecular regions from which the larger peptides are derived in themselves contain pepsin-sensitive (non-triple-helical) domains. In addition, several of the peptides examined were found to be present in two slightly different forms, suggesting that closely adjacent pepsin-sensitive sites often exist within the type IV collagen molecules. The methods outlined here provide a reliable means by which identifiable type IV collagen peptides can be isolated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Calcium-dependent binding of basement membrane protein BM-40 (osteonectin, SPARC) to basement membrane collagen type IV

Basement membrane protein BM-40, prepared from the mouse Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor, was used in native, denatured and proteolytically processed form for binding to various extracellular matrix proteins. BM-40 and its derivatives were also characterized by CD spectroscopy, calcium binding and epitope analysis. Of several basement membrane proteins tested only collagen IV showed a distinct and calcium-dependent binding of BM-40 in an immobilized ligand assay. This interaction was specific as shown by a low activity of other collagen types (I, III, V, VI) in direct binding and competition assays. The binding was reduced or abolished by metal-ion-chelating or chaotropic agents, high salt and reduction of disulfide bonds in BM-40. Fragment studies indicated that domains III (alpha-helix) and/or IV (EF hand) of BM-40 possess the binding site(s) for collagen IV, while the N-terminal domains I and II provide the major antigenic determinants. A major BM-40-binding site on collagen IV was dependent on a triple-helical conformation and could be localized to a pepsin fragment from the central portion of the triple-helical domain, in agreement with electron microscopic visualization of BM-40--collagen-IV complexes.     

Human basement membrane collagen (type IV). The amino acid sequence of the alpha 2(IV) chain and its comparison with the alpha 1(IV) chain reveals deletions in the alpha 1(IV) chain

The cDNA and protein sequences of the N-terminal 60% of the alpha 2(IV) chain of human basement membrane collagen have been determined. By repeated primer extension with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides and mRNA from either HT1080 cells or human placenta overlapping clones were obtained which cover 3414 bp. The derived protein sequence allows for the first time a comparison and alignment of both alpha chains of type IV collagen from the N terminus. This alignment reveals an additional 43 amino acid residues in the alpha 2(IV) chain as compared to the alpha 1(IV) chain. 21 of these additional residues form a disulfide-bridged loop within the triple helix which is unique among all known collagens.     

The alpha 1 beta 1 integrin recognition site of the basement membrane collagen molecule [alpha 1(IV)]2 alpha 2(IV).

Cells interact with type IV collagen mainly via the integrins alpha 1 beta 1 and alpha 2 beta 1. A triple helical CNBr derived fragment CB3[IV], which contains the recognition sites for both integrins, was isolated from type IV collagen. Trypsin treatment of CB3[IV] gave rise to four smaller fragments, F1-F4, of which the smallest one, F4, contained the recognition site for alpha 1 beta 1. Further fragmentation of F4 by thermolysin treatment at 50 degrees C led to fragment TL1, which represents the C-terminal half of F4, and which was no longer able to interact with alpha 1 beta 1. Therefore the recognition site of alpha 1 beta 1 had to be located within the N-terminal half of F4, a position which was verified by electron micrographs of a crosslinked F2-alpha 1 beta 1 complex. Modification of the Arg and Asp residues, which abolished the binding activity of F4, led to the identification of Arg (461) within the alpha 2(IV) and Asp (461) within the alpha 1 (IV) chain as essential residues for the alpha 1 beta 1. The array of these two residues on the surface of the triple helix is discussed.     

Assembly of type IV collagen. Insights from alpha3(IV) collagen-deficient mice

Type IV collagen includes six genetically distinct polypeptides named alpha1(IV) through alpha6(IV). These isoforms are speculated to organize themselves into unique networks providing mammalian basement membranes specificity and inequality. Recent studies using bovine and human glomerular and testis basement membranes have shown that unique networks of collagen comprising either alpha1 and alpha2 chains or alpha3, alpha4, and alpha5 chains can be identified. These studies have suggested that assembly of alpha5 chain into type IV collagen network is dependent on alpha3 expression where both chains are normally present in the tissue. In the present study, we show that in the lens and inner ear of normal mice, expression of alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, and alpha5 chains of type IV collagen can be detected using alpha chain-specific antibodies. In the alpha3(IV) collagen-deficient mice, only the expression of alpha1, alpha2, and alpha5 chains of type IV collagen was detectable. The non-collagenous 1 domain of alpha5 chain was associated with alpha1 in the non-collagenous 1 domain hexamer structure, suggesting that network incorporation of alpha5 is possible in the absence of the alpha3 chain in these tissues. The present study proves that expression of alpha5 is not dependent on the expression of alpha3 chain in these tissues and that alpha5 chain can assemble into basement membranes in the absence of alpha3 chain. These findings support the notion that type IV collagen assembly may be regulated by tissue-specific factors.     

Glomerular basement membrane. Identification of a fourth chain, alpha 4, of type IV collagen

The noncollagenous domain hexamer of collagen IV from bovine glomerular basement membrane was further investigated to determine the types of collagen chain from which subunits M2*b and M3 are derived. M2*b was shown to be a shorter form, containing 9 fewer residues, of M2*a which was previously established as the noncollagenous domain of a third chain, alpha 3, of collagen IV (Saus, J., Wieslander, J., Langeveld, J.P.M., Quinones, S., and Hudson, B.G. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 13374-13380). M3 was identified as the noncollagenous domain of a fourth chain, alpha 4, of type IV collagen, on the basis of additional sequence data together with previous findings. A comparison of the collagenous-noncollagenous junction regions of alpha 3(IV) and alpha 4(IV) chains with those of classical alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains reveals structural information which provides a potential strategy for molecular cloning of these novel chains. The results further reveal the complexity of electrophoresis patterns of the hexamer and potential ambiguities in using one-dimensional patterns to determine whether molecular defects of collagen IV occur in pathological processes affecting basement membranes.