title: Molecular mechanism of alpha 1(I)-osteogenesis imperfecta/Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: unfolding of an N-anchor domain at the N-terminal end of the type I collagen triple helix.
abstract: We demonstrate that 85 N-terminal amino acids of the alpha1(I) chain participate in a highly stable folding domain, acting as the stabilizing anchor for the amino end of the type I collagen triple helix. This anchor region is bordered by a microunfolding region, 15 amino acids in each chain, which include no proline or hydroxyproline residues and contain a chymotrypsin cleavage site. Glycine substitutions and amino acid deletions within the N-anchor domain induce its reversible unfolding above 34 degrees C. The overall triple helix denaturation temperature is reduced by 5-6 degrees C, similar to complete N-anchor removal. N-propeptide partially restores the stability of mutant procollagen but not sufficiently to prevent N-anchor unfolding and a conformational change at the N-propeptide cleavage site. The ensuing failure of N-proteinase to cleave at the misfolded site leads to incorporation of pN-collagen into fibrils. Similar, but weaker, effects are caused by G88E substitution in the adjacent triplet, which appears to alter N-anchor structure as well. As in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) VIIA/B, fibrils containing pN-collagen are thinner and weaker causing EDS-like laxity of large and small joints and paraspinal ligaments. However, distinct structural consequences of N-anchor destabilization result in a distinct alpha1(I)-osteogenesis imperfecta (OI)/EDS phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Section on Physical Biochemistry, NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makareeva
authors.forename: Wayne A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Joan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leikin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004535:Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D017354:Point Mutation; D011489:Protein Denaturation / Q000235:genetics; D017510:Protein Folding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D010446:Peptide Fragments