Collagen XII interacts with avian tenascin-X through its NC3 domain

Large oligomeric proteins often contain several binding sites for different molecules and can therefore induce formation of larger protein complexes. Collagen XII, a multidomain protein with a small collagenous region, interacts with fibrillar collagens through its C-terminal region. However, no interactions to other extracellular proteins have been identified involving the non-collagenous N-terminal NC3 domain. To further elucidate the components of protein complexes present close to collagen fibrils, different extracellular matrix proteins were tested for interaction in a solid phase assay. Binding to the NC3 domain of collagen XII was found for the avian homologue of tenascin-X that in humans is linked to Ehlers-Danlos disease. The binding was further characterized by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and supported by immunohistochemical co-localization in chick and mouse tissue. On the ultrastructural level, detection of collagen XII and tenascin-X by immunogold labeling confirmed this finding.