title: Binding of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) to pregnancy zone protein (PZP). Comparison to the TGF-beta-alpha 2-macroglobulin interaction.
abstract: Pregnancy zone protein (PZP) is quantitatively the most important pregnancy-associated plasma protein and it has strong similarity to alpha 2-macroglobulin. Since alpha 2-macroglobulin is a binding protein for transforming growth factors-beta (TGF-beta), it was of interest to test whether the related protein, PZP, also binds to these growth-regulatory proteins. Using affinity-labelling methods, we demonstrate that PZP binds both TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 and that the binding characteristics are similar to those of the TGF-beta-alpha 2-macroglobulin interaction. TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 1 bind to PZP in a predominantly noncovalent manner in vitro. TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 bind to both the dimeric and tetrameric forms of PZP. Our studies also indicate that PZP binds TGF-beta 2 with higher affinity than TGF-beta 1. Finally, we demonstrate that PZP inhibits the binding of TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 to their cell surface receptors. The increased level of PZP during pregnancy may affect the action of TGF-beta by regulating the distribution, clearance and/or general availability of TGF-beta. The preferential binding of TGF-beta 2 over TGF-beta 1 by PZP implies that PZP may differentially regulate the action of TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2.
authors.affiliation: Cell Surface Recognition Group, Biotechnology Research Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bostedt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stigbrand
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: O'Connor-McCourt
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins