Assessment of prokaryotic collagen-like sequences derived from streptococcal Scl1 and Scl2 proteins as a source of recombinant GXY polymers.
Collagen triple helix, composed of the repeating Gly-Xaa-Yaa (GXY) sequence, is a structural element found in all multicellular animals and also in some prokaryotes. Long GXY polymers are highly regarded components used in food, cosmetic, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, we explore a new concept for the production of recombinant GXY polymers which are based on the sequence of "prokaryotic collagens", the streptococcal collagen-like proteins Scl1 and Scl2. Analysis of 50 Scl variants identified the amino acid distribution and GXY-repeat usage that are involved in the stabilization of the triple helix in Scls. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy and electron microscopy, we show that significantly different recombinant rScl polypeptides form stable, unhydroxylated homotrimeric triple helices that can be produced both intra- and extracellularly in the Escherichia coli. These rScl constructs containing 20 to 129 GXY repeats had mid-point melting temperatures between 32 and 39 degrees C. Altogether, Scl-derived collagens, which are different from the mammalian collagens, can form stable triple helices under physiological conditions and can be used for the production of recombinant GXY polymers with a wide variety of potential applications.
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
Runlin
R
Han
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
Antoni
A
Zwiefka
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
Clayton C
CC
Caswell
Center for Extracellular Matrix Biology, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Yi
Y
Xu
Shriners Hospital for Children, Portland, OR, 97201, USA.
Douglas R
DR
Keene
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
Ewa
E
Lukomska
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
Zhihong
Z
Zhao
Center for Extracellular Matrix Biology, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Magnus
M
Höök
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA. slukomski@hsc.wvu.edu.
Slawomir
S
Lukomski
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D044366:Transition Temperature
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001704:Biopolymers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C423454:Scl1 protein, Streptococcus; C423453:Scl2 protein, Streptococcus; D003094:Collagen