title: Sequence, recombinant expression and tissue localization of two novel extracellular matrix proteins, fibulin-3 and fibulin-4.
abstract: Fibulin-1 and fibulin-2 have previously been identified as basement membrane and microfibrillar proteins with a broad binding repertoire for other extracellular ligands. Here we report on the cloning and sequence analysis of human fibulin-3 (487 residues), also known as protein S1-5, and fibulin-4 (443 residues). These novel members of this protein family are most closely related to fibulin-1C. They consist of a C-terminal globular domain III, also shared by the fibrillins, a central rod-like element composed of five calcium-binding epidermal growth factor-like (EG) modules (domain II) and an N-terminal interrupted EG module (domain I) which replaces the anaphylatoxin-like modules of the other fibulins. This predicted domain structure was supported by electron microscopy of fibulin-4, which demonstrated short rods. Northern blots showed that both novel fibulins are expressed in several human tissues to a variable extent and that they are up-regulated in quiescent fibroblasts. Specific antibodies which were raised against each of the novel fibulins did not cross-react with fibulin-1. Immunohistology of adult mouse tissues showed that fibulin-3, fibulin-4 and fibulin-1 have overlapping but distinct extracellular tissue localizations. A particularly prominent feature was the staining of variable sets of large and small blood vessels.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giltay
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Timpl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kostka
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C403672:EFEMP2 protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C060820:fibulin; C084612:fibulin 2