title: The Compact and Biologically Relevant Structure of Inter-α-inhibitor Is Maintained by the Chondroitin Sulfate Chain and Divalent Cations.
abstract: Inter-α-inhibitor is a proteoglycan of unique structure. The protein consists of three subunits, heavy chain 1, heavy chain 2, and bikunin covalently joined by a chondroitin sulfate chain originating at Ser-10 of bikunin. Inter-α-inhibitor interacts with an inflammation-associated protein, tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 protein, in the extracellular matrix. This interaction leads to transfer of the heavy chains from the chondroitin sulfate of inter-α-inhibitor to hyaluronan and consequently to matrix stabilization. Divalent cations and heavy chain 2 are essential co-factors in this transfer reaction. In the present study, we have investigated how divalent cations in concert with the chondroitin sulfate chain influence the structure and stability of inter-α-inhibitor. The results showed that Mg(2+) or Mn(2+), but not Ca(2+), induced a conformational change in inter-α-inhibitor as evidenced by a decrease in the Stokes radius and a bikunin chondroitin sulfate-dependent increase of the thermodynamic stability. This structure was shown to be essential for the ability of inter-α-inhibitor to participate in extracellular matrix stabilization. In addition, the data revealed that bikunin was positioned adjacent to both heavy chains and that the two heavy chains also were in close proximity. The chondroitin sulfate chain interacted with all protein components and inter-α-inhibitor dissociated when it was degraded. Conventional purification protocols result in the removal of the Mg(2+) found in plasma and because divalent cations influence the conformation and affect function it is important to consider this when characterizing the biological activity of inter-α-inhibitor.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Park, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scavenius
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Park, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, and.
authors.forename: Camilla Lund
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Nikolajsen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Park, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, and.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stenvang
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Park, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ida B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Thøgersen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Park, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Wyrożemski
authors.affiliation: the Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016.
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Wisniewski
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Park, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, and.
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Otzen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Park, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristian W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Sanggaard
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Park, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, and jje@mbg.au.dk.
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Enghild
mesh_terms: D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D023302:Protein Footprinting; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D055550:Protein Stability; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D058767:Protein Unfolding; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D008024:Ligands; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011509:Proteoglycans; C016001:alpha-1-microglobulin; C011877:inter-alpha-inhibitor; D008345:Manganese; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D008274:Magnesium
keywords: chondroitin sulfate; glycosaminoglycan; metal ion-protein interaction; protease inhibitor; protein cross-linking; proteoglycan structure