title: Construction of multi-functional extracellular matrix proteins that promote tube formation of endothelial cells.
abstract: We developed artificial extracellular matrix proteins designed to have collagen-binding activity and active functional units that promote network formation of vascular endothelial cells. We engineered a laminin-derived IKVAV sequence, which stimulates capillary network formation of vascular endothelial cells, to incorporate into an elastin-derived structural unit. The designed fusion protein also had a cell-adhesive RGD sequence and a collagen-binding domain derived from fibronectin. The resultant fusion protein could bind to collagen type I and promote angiogenic activity of collagen gel. The collagen-binding domain also had slight angiogenic activity; however, the designed fusion protein also enhanced cellular migration activity. The engineering strategy of designing multi-functional ECM proteins has a possibility for supporting current tissue engineering techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mie
authors.forename: Hisakazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Eiry
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kobatake
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins