title: The collaggrecan: Synthesis and visualization of an artificial proteoglycan.
abstract: An artificial aggrecan-like proteoglycan has been designed and synthesized in vitro. At variance with natural proteoglycans, whose glycosaminoglycan chains are always O-linked via a tetrasaccharide bridge to the serine residues of a specific protein core, the present structure consists of chondroitin-6-sulfate chains directly bound to the lysine and hydroxylysine residues of a collagen molecule backbone. The resulting macromolecule has been characterized by histochemistry, atomic force microscopy and FTIR. The number of variables involved (e.g., length and type of the collagen backbone, glycosaminoglycan species, sulfation type and pattern, molecular weight, number and length of side chains, etc.) makes possible to conceive an almost endless variety of artificial proteoglycans, each precisely tailored to a specific functional role. In addition to their use as biomaterials, glycated collagens interact with cells in complex ways and a previous study has already shown the ability of a glycated collagen to redirect fibroblastoma cells from proliferation to differentiation. The research is still underway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical & Morphological Sciences, Insubria University, Via Monte Generoso 71, 21100 Varese, Italy. Electronic address: mario.raspanti@uninsubria.it.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raspanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical & Morphological Sciences, Insubria University, Via Monte Generoso 71, 21100 Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caravà
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sgambato
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natalello
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cipolla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002417:Cattle; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D006901:Hydroxylysine / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011509:Proteoglycans; D006901:Hydroxylysine; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Collagen; Glycation; Proteoglycans