Characterization of mutated protein encoded by partially duplicated fibrillin-1 gene in tight skin (TSK) mice

Mol Immunol. 1999 Feb;36(3):169-76. doi: 10.1016/s0161-5890(99)00035-8.

Abstract

Fibrillin-1 (Fbn-1) is a ubiquitous protein present in the extracellular matrix of various organs and it is a major component of microfibrils embedded in the core of elastic fibers. In humans, mutations or deletions of the Fbn-1 gene are associated with several genetic diseases. In addition, several microsatellite alleles near Fbn-1 gene were found associated with diffuse scleroderma. In TSK/+ mice, which develop a scleroderma-like syndrome, the Fbn-1 gene exhibits an inframe duplication of exons 17-40. In this study, we report that the synthesis and secretion of wild-type Fbn-1 in TSK/+ is higher than that of the mutated Fbn-1 protein excluding the possibility that TSK genetic defect is due to a loss of the wild allele. We also demonstrate for the first time that TGF-beta, which plays a crucial role in skin fibrosis, binds to both wild-type and mutated Fbn-1. The amount of bound TGF-beta was higher in mutated than wild-type Fbn-1 and appears related to the number of TGF-beta binding motifs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / chemistry
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fibrillin-1
  • Fibrillins
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Duplication*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry*
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics*
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • FBN1 protein, human
  • Fbn1 protein, mouse
  • Fibrillin-1
  • Fibrillins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta