Journal article
Shape of tropoelastin, the highly extensible protein that controls human tissue elasticity
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol.108(11), pp.4322-4327
2011
Abstract
Elastin enables the reversible deformation of elastic tissues and can withstand decades of repetitive forces. Tropoelastin is the soluble precursor to elastin, the main elastic protein found in mammals. Little is known of the shape and mechanism of assembly of tropoelastin as its unique composition and propensity to self-associate has hampered structural studies. In this study, we solve the nanostructure of full-length and corresponding overlapping fragments of tropoelastin using small angle X-ray and neutron scattering, allowing us to identify discrete regions of the molecule. Tropoelastin is an asymmetric coil, with a protruding foot that encompasses the C-terminal cell interaction motif. We show that individual tropoelastin molecules are highly extensible yet elastic without hysteresis to perform as highly efficient molecular nanosprings. Our findings shed light on how biology uses this single protein to build durable elastic structures that allow for cell attachment to an appended foot. We present a unique model for head-to-tail assembly which allows for the propagation of the molecule's asymmetric coil through a stacked spring design.
Details
- Title
- Shape of tropoelastin, the highly extensible protein that controls human tissue elasticity
- Authors
- Clair Baldock (Author) - University of Manchester, United KingdomAndres F Oberhauser (Author) - University of Texas, United StatesLiang Ma (Author) - University of Texas, United StatesDonna Lammie (Author) - Cardiff University, United KingdomVeronique Siegler (Author) - Cardiff University, United KingdomSuzanne M Mithieux (Author) - University of SydneyYidong Tu (Author) - University of SydneyJohn Yuen Ho Chow (Author) - University of SydneyFarhana Suleman (Author) - University of Manchester, United KingdomMarc Malfois (Author) - University of Manchester, United KingdomSarah Rogers (Author) - ISIS Science and Technology Facilities Council, United KingdomLiang Guo (Author) - Illinois Institute of Technology, United StatesThomas C Irving (Author) - Illinois Institute of Technology, United StatesTim J Wess (Author) - Cardiff University, United KingdomAnthony S Weiss (Author) - University of Sydney
- Publication details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol.108(11), pp.4322-4327
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Date published
- 2011
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.1014280108
- ISSN
- 0027-8424; 0027-8424
- Organisation Unit
- Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic); University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451410602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
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- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
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