title: Domain IV of mouse laminin beta1 and beta2 chains.
abstract: Domain IV, consisting of about 230 residues, represents a particular protein module so far found only in laminin beta1 and beta2 chains. Both domains were obtained by recombinant production in mammalian cells. They showed a globular structure, as expected from electron microscopic examination of laminins. Fragment beta1IV was obtained as a monomer and a disulfide-bonded dimer, and both were modified to approximately 50% by a single chondroitin sulfate chain attached to Ser721 of an SGD consensus sequence. Dimerization is caused by an odd number of cysteines, with three of them having a partial thiol character. Whether both modifications also occur in tissue forms of laminin remains to be established. Fragment beta2IV was only obtained as a monomer, as it lacked one crucial cysteine and the SGD sequence. It required, however, the presence of two adjacent LE modules for proper folding. Polyclonal antibodies raised against both fragments showed no cross-reaction with each other and allowed establishment of beta chain-specific radioimmunoassays and light and electron microscopic immunostaining of tissues. This demonstrated a 5-25-fold lower content of beta2 compared with beta1 chains in various tissue extracts of adult mice. Tissues derived from beta2-deficient mice failed to react with the beta2-specific antibodies but showed a twofold higher content of beta1 than heterozygotes. The antibodies to beta2 showed broader tissue staining than reported previously, including in particular a distinct reaction with the extrasynaptic endomysium of skeletal muscle. Immunogold staining localized both beta chains primarily to basement membranes of kidney, muscle and various other tissues.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Karlheinz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Miner
authors.forename: Nicolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miosge
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Timpl
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000737:chemistry*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D007797:Laminin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins