SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Kringles”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Purification and characterization of a recombinant anti-angiogenic kringle fragment expressed in Escherichia coli: Purification and characterization of a tri-kringle fragment from human apolipoprotein (a) (kringle IV (9)-kringle IV (10)-kringle V).

A kringle fragment (type IV (9)-IV (10)-V) from human apolipoprotein (a) (called LK68) was expressed in an inclusion body in Escherichia coli. The LK68 in this inclusion body was rendered soluble with urea, and efficiently refolded via oxidation in the presence of re-dox couple. The refolded LK68 was then purified via two steps of ion exchange chromatography, concentrated via preparative reversed-phase chromatography, and freeze-dried, at a final yield of approximately 30%. The purified LK68 exhibited profound affinity for lysine and fibrinogen, which suggests the proper folding of the kringle fragment, and also indicates that the native characteristics of apolipoprotein (a) were preserved. The purified LK68 was determined to be highly homogeneous upon reversed-phase HPLC analysis and size-exclusion HPLC analysis, in the presence of 20% (v/v) acetonitrile. However, on size-exclusion HPLC analysis without acetonitrile, it was determined to be somewhat heterogeneous, and this was corroborated by native analyses, including native PAGE and IEF.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMed2001

Origin of fibronectin type II (FN2) modules: structural analyses of distantly-related members of the kringle family idey the kringle domain of neurotrypsin as a potential link between FN2 domains and kringles.

Analysis of complete genome sequences has made it clear that fibronectin type II (FN2) modules are present only in the vertebrate lineage, raising intriguing questions about the origin of this module type. Kringle domains display many similarities to FN2 domains; therefore it was suggested previously that they are highly divergent descendants of the same ancestral protein-fold. Since kringles are present in arthropodes, nematodes, and invertebrate chordates as well as in vertebrates, it is suggested that the FN2 domain arose in the vertebrate lineage through major structural modification of the more ancestral kringle fold. To explore this structural transition, in the present work we compare key structural features of two highly divergent kringle domains (the kringle of Caenorhabditis elegans Ror receptor tyrosine kinase and the kringle of rat neurotrypsin) with those of plasminogen kringles and FN2 domains. Our NMR conformation fingerprinting analysis indicates that characteristic (1)H-NMR markers of kringle or FN2 native folding, such as the dispersion of Trp aromatic connectivities and shifts of the Leu(46)/Thr(16) methyl signals, both decrease in the order kringles > neurotrypsin kringle > FN2 domains. These results suggest that the neurotrypsin kringle may represent an intermediate form between typical kringles and FN2 domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Kringle-kringle interactions in multimer kringle structures.

The crystal structure of a monoclinic form of human plasminogen kringle 4 (PGK4) has been solved by molecular replacement using the orthorthombic structure as a model and it has been refined by restrained least-squares methods to an R factor of 16.4% at 2.25 A resolution. The X-PLOR structure of kringle 2 of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PAK2) has been refined further using PROFFT (R = 14.5% at 2.38 A resolution). The PGK4 structure has 2 and t-PAK2 has 3 independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. There are 5 different noncrystallographic symmetry "dimers" in PGK4. Three make extensive kringle-kringle interactions related by noncrystallographic 2(1) screw axes without blocking the lysine binding site. Such associations may occur in multikringle structures such as prothrombin, hepatocyte growth factor, plasminogen (PG), and apolipoprotein [a]. The t-PAK2 structure also has noncrystallographic screw symmetry (3(1)) and mimics fibrin binding mode by having lysine of one molecule interacting electrostatically with the lysine binding site of another kringle. This ligand-like binding interaction may be important in kringle-kringle interactions involving non-lysine binding kringles with lysine or pseudo-lysine binding sites. Electrostatic intermolecular interactions involving the lysine binding site are also found in the crystal structures of PGK1 and orthorhombic PGK4. Anions associate with the cationic centers of these and t-PAK2 that appear to be more than occasional components of lysine binding site regions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

The effector roles of kringle 1 and kringle 2 in the enzymatic properties of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator as revealed by generation of recombinant molecules containing each kringle linked to the protease domain.

Recombinant DNA technology has been employed to construct and express in human kidney 293 cells cDNAs encoding deletion-mutant recombinant (r) tissue-type plasminogen activators (tPA) retaining only the kringle 1 ([K1tPA]) and serine protease (P) functional domains (r-[K1tPA]P), and the kringle 2 ([K2tPA]) and P domains (r-[K2tPA]P), along with a variant of r-tPA containing a W253S mutation (r-tPA/W253S). Of these mutants, only r-[K2tPA]P retained its ability to interact with omega-amino acid effector molecules. The Km for single-chain wild-type (wt) r-tPA toward the synthetic substrate H-D-Ile-L-Pro-L-Arg-p-nitroanilide (S2288) was decreased by approximately 3-fold in the presence of a saturating concentration of human fibrinogen (Fg), along with a small (1.14-fold) increase in the kcat for this same reaction. The kinetic activation (dissociation) constant (KA) for Fg was 2.4 microM. Fg did not influence the steady-state amidolytic properties of two-chain wtr-tPA. Similar effects of Fg on the Km for hydrolysis of S2288 were displayed for single-chain forms of r-[K1tPA]P, r-[K2tPA]P, and r-tPA/W253S, with additional small effects of Fg on the kcat of this reaction. The KA for Fg toward these proteins ranged from 2.4 microM for wtr-tPA to 5.2 microM for r-[K1tPA]P. The amidolytic properties of the two-chain forms of these variants were also unaffected by Fg. The activation rate of [Glu1]-plasminogen ([Glu1]Pg) by wtr-tPA was stimulated approximately 7-fold by Fg and approximately 139-fold by the same concentration (in Fg equivalents) of human fibrin (Fn) (Fn/Fg stimulatory ratio = 19.9). The Fn/Fg ratio was 10.6, 20.9, and 18.0 for r-[K1tPA]P, r-[K2tPA]P, and r-tPA/W253S, respectively. Quantitative [Glu1]Pg-enriched clot lysis assays revealed that r-[K1tPA]P, r-[K2tPA]P, and r-tPA/W253S were approximately 18, 72, and 54%, respectively, as effective as wtr-tPA in catalyzing the plasminogen activation event leading to lysis. The antifibrinolytic agent epsilon-aminocaproic acid, inhibited clot lysis with approximately equal effectiveness in [Glu1]Pg-enriched clots when wtr-tPA, r-[K1tPA]P, r-[K2tPA]P, or r-tPA/W253S were employed as the activators. These studies demonstrated that Fg- and Fn-based stimulatory effects on the enzymatic properties of r-tPA and its variants were generally not proportional to the macroscopic binding abilities of these proteins with omega-amino acids or with Fg and Fn.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1994

Expression, purification and characterization of the recombinant kringle 2 and kringle 3 domains of human plasminogen and analysis of their binding affinity for omega-aminocarboxylic acids.

The kringle 2 (E161T/C162S/EEE[K2HPg/C169S]TT) and the kringle 3 (TYQ[K3HPg]DS) domains of human plasminogen (HPg) were expressed in Escherichia coli in an expression vector with the phage T5 promotor/operator element N250PSN250P29 and the cDNA sequence for a hexahistidine tail to facilitate the isolation of the recombinant protein. A coagulation factor Xa (FXa)-sensitive cleavage site was introduced to remove the N-terminal histidine tag. In r-K2, mutations E161T and C162S were introduced to enhance the FXa cleavage yield and C169S to replace the cysteine residue, participating in the inter-kringle disulfide bridge between kringles 2 and 3. Recombinant proteins were isolated by affinity chromatography on Ni(2+)-nitrilotriacetic acid/agarose and refolded under denaturing and reducing conditions followed by a non-denaturing and oxidising environment. The free thiol group in position 297 in r-K3 was selectively alkylated with iodoacetamide. The hexahistidine tail was successfully removed with FXa. The N-terminal sequence, the amino acid composition and the molecular mass analyses are in agreement with the expected data. The correct arrangement of the disulfide bonds was verified by sequence analysis of the corresponding thermolytic and subtilisin fragments. r-K2 exhibits weak binding to lysine-Bio-Gel. The weak binding affinity of r-K2 for omega-aminocarboxylic acids is confirmed by intrinsic fluorescence titration with 6-aminohexanoic acid (NH2C5COOH) indicating a Kd of approximately 401 microM. In contrast, r-K3 seems to be devoid of a binding affinity for omega-aminocarboxylic acids. Considering earlier determined Kd values of kringle 1, kringle 4 and kringle 5, the binding affinity of HPg kringle domains for NH2C5COOH is proposed to decrease in the following order, kringle 1 > kringle 4 > kringle 5 > kringle 2 > kringle 3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Recombinant gene expression and 1H NMR characteristics of the kringle (2 + 3) supermodule: spectroscopic/functional individuality of plasminogen kringle domains.

The plasminogen kringle 2 (K2HPg) and kringle 3 (K3HPg) modules occur in tandem within the polypeptide segment that affords the heavy chain of plasmin. The K2HPg and K3HPg are unique among the plasminogen kringle domains in that they also are linked to each other via the Cys169-Cys297 (Cys4 of K2HPg to Cys43 of K3HPg, kringle numbering convention) disulfide bridge, thus generating a K2HPg-K3HPg "supermodule". The kringle (2 + 3) sequence of human plasminogen (r-EE[K2HPgK3HPg]DS) was expressed in Escherichia coli, using an expression vector containing the phage T5 promoter/operator N250PSN250P29 and the codons for an N-terminal hexahistidine tag to ensure the isolation of the recombinant protein by affinity chromatography on Ni(2+)-nitrilotriacetic acid/agarose under denaturing and reducing conditions. Kringle (2 + 3) was refolded in the presence of glutathione redox buffer. By taking advantage of the lysine affinity of kringle 2, the protein was purified by affinity chromatography on lysine-Bio-Gel. Recombinant kringle (2 + 3) was identified by amino acid composition, N-terminal sequence and mass determination. The 1H NMR spectrum shows that the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg is properly folded. By reference to spectra of the individual kringles, r-K2HPg and r-K3HPg, resonances of the K2HPg and K3HPg components in the spectrum of the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg can be readily distinguished. The strictly conserved Leu46 residue (kringle residue number convention) yields delta-methyl signals that are characteristic for K2HPg and K3HPg, exhibiting chemical shifts of -0.87 and -0.94 ppm, respectively, which are distinct from those of K1HPg, K4HPg, and K5HPg, (-1.04 to -1.05 ppm). Thus, the high-field Leu46 signals from K2HPg and K3HPg are well resolved from those of other kringles and can be identified unambiguously in spectra of the K1HPgK2HPgK3HPg elastolytic fragment of plasminogen as well as in spectra of Glu-plasminogen. Overall, r-K2HPgK3HPg exhibits broader resonance line widths than does the K1HPg component, consistent with a lesser mobility of the K2HPgK3HPg segment within the K1HPgK2HPgK3HPg fragment, a reflection of the extra structural constraint imposed by the disulfide bridge linking K2HPg to K3HPg. The ligand 6-aminohexanoic acid (6-AHA), which is known to interact with r-K2HPg but not with r-K3HPg, selectively perturbs K2 aromatic signals in the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg spectrum while leaving K3 resonances largely unaffected. Association constant (K(a)) values for 6-AHA determined from 1H NMR ligand titration experiments yield K(a) approximately 2.2 +/- 0.3 mM(-1) for the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg, comparable to K(a) approximately 2.3 +/- 0.2 mM(-1) determined for the isolated r-K2HPg, which demonstrates that the interactions of 6-AHA with the K2HPg ligand-binding site are not significantly affected by the neighboring K3HPg domain within the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg supermodule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Fluorescence spectroscopic analysis of ligand binding to kringle 1 + 2 + 3 and kringle 1 fragments from human plasminogen.

The ligand binding of kringle 1 + 2 + 3 and kringle 1 from human plasminogen has been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Analysis of fluorescence titration of kringle 1 + 2 + 3 with 6-aminohexanoic acid shows that this fragment, besides the high-affinity lysine-binding site with Kd = 2.9 microM, contains two additional lysine-binding sites which differ in binding strength (Kd = 28 microM and Kd = 220 microM). This strongly suggests the existence of a lysine-binding site in each of the first three kringles. 6-Aminohexanoic acid, pentylamine, pentanoic acid and arginine were used for investigation of the ligand specificity of isolated kringle 1 prepared by pepsin hydrolysis of kringle 1 + 2 + 3. It has been established that kringle 1 has high affinity to 6-aminohexanoicacid, pentylamine and arginine (Kd values are 3.2 microM, 4.8 microM and 4.3 microM, respectively). At the same time pentanoic acid did not bind with kringle 1. These facts indicate, firstly, a broad ligand specificity of kringle 1 and, secondly, the paramount importance of the positively charged group of the ligand for its interaction with lysine-binding site of this kringle.

Amines↗

PubMed1984

Kringles: modules specialized for protein binding. Homology of the gelatin-binding region of fibronectin with the kringle structures of proteases.

Prothrombin, plasminogen, urokinase- and tissue-type plasminogen activators contain homologous structures known as kringles . The kringles correspond to autonomous structural and folding domains which mediate the binding of these multidomain proteins to other proteins. During evolution the different kringles retained the same gross architecture, the kringle -fold, yet diverged to bind different proteins. We show that the amino acid sequences of the type II structures of the gelatin-binding region of fibronectin are homologous with those of the protease- kringles . Prediction of secondary structures revealed a remarkable agreement in the positions of predicted beta-sheets, suggesting that the folding of kringles and type II structures may also be similar. As a corollary of this finding, the disulphide-bridge pattern of type II structures is shown to be homologous to that in kringles . It is noteworthy that protease- kringles and fibronectin type II structures have similar functions inasmuch as they mediate the binding of multidomain proteins to other proteins. It is proposed that the kringles of proteases and type II structures of fibronectin evolved from a common ancestral protein binding module.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Identification of two functionally distinct lysine-binding sites in kringle 37 and in kringles 32-36 of human apolipoprotein(a).

The well documented association between high plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and cardiovascular disease might be mediated by the lysine binding of apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)), the plasminogen-like, multikringle glycoprotein in Lp(a). We employed a mutational analysis to localize the lysine-binding domains within human apo(a). Recombinant apo(a) (r-apo(a)) with 17 plasminogen kringle IV-like domains, one plasminogen kringle V-like domain, and a protease domain or mutants thereof were expressed in the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. The lysine binding of plasma Lp(a) and r-apo(a) in the culture supernatants of transfected HepG2 cells was analyzed by lysine-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Wild type recombinant Lp(a) (r-Lp(a)) revealed lysine binding in the range observed for human plasma Lp(a). A single accessible lysine binding site in Lp(a) is indicated by a complete loss of lysine binding observed for r-Lp(a) species that contain either a truncated r-apo(a) lacking kringle IV-37, kringle V, and the protease or a point-mutated r-apo(a) with a Trp-4174-->Arg substitution in the putative lysine-binding pocket of kringle IV-37. Evidence is also presented for additional lysine-binding sites within kringles 32-36 of apo(a) that are masked in Lp(a) as indicated by an increased lysine binding for the point mutant (Cys-4057-->Ser), which is unable to assemble into particles. An important role of these lysine-binding site(s) for Lp(a) assembly is suggested by a decreased assembly efficiency for deletion mutants lacking either kringle 32 or kringles 32-35.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

The apolipoprotein(a) kringle IV repeats which differ from the major repeat kringle are present in variably-sized isoforms.

Elevated levels of plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] have been correlated with the development of atherosclerosis in human populations. Apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a); the distinguishing protein component of Lp(a)] is characterized by multiple repeats of a sequence that closely resembles kringle IV of plasminogen. Variably-sized Lp(a) isoforms that are observed in the human population have been shown to occur as a result of differences in the numbers of the repeated kringle IV units in apo(a). Using PCR analysis of human liver mRNA, we have analyzed apo(a) from 10 unrelated individuals in order to determine the presence or absence of kringle IV repeat #1, and #30-#37. Based on the apo(a) cDNA sequence published for one individual, these kringles all differ to some degree in amino acid sequence from the major kringle IV repeat, which is present in a number of identically repeated copies. We found that sequences corresponding to apo(a) kringle IV repeat #1, and #30-#37 were present in all individuals studied. This suggests that the inverse relationship that has been observed between Lp(a) isoform size and plasma Lp(a) levels is mediated by different numbers of identical kringle IV repeats, by an as yet undetermined mechanism. During the course of this study, we identified a Met-->Thr polymorphism in the apo(a) kringle IV repeat #37. The calculated frequencies of the Met and Thr alleles were 0.58 and 0.42 respectively. We did not observe a correlation between the Met-->Thr substitution and either plasma Lp(a) levels, or apo(a) transcript size.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Analysis of the aromatic 1H-NMR spectrum of the kringle 5 domain from human plasminogen. Evidence for a conserved kringle fold.

A kringle 5 domain fragment from human plasminogen has been investigated by 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 300 MHz and 620 MHz. The study focuses on the kringle 5 aromatic spectrum as aromatic side chains appear to mediate the binding of benzamidine. Spin-echo experiments and acid/base-titration studies in conjunction with two-dimensional double-quantum and chemical-shift-correlated spectroscopies were used to identify individual spin systems. Sequence-specific assignments of aromatic resonances are derived from direct comparison of the kringle 5 spectrum with spectra of the homologous kringle 1 and kringle 4 domains of plasminogen. As previously observed for kringles 1 and 4, the pattern we detect for Tyr9 in kringle 5 reflects a slow conformational exchange between two states in equilibrium, one in which the Tyr9 ring is freely mobile and one in which its flip dynamics are constrained. Proton Overhauser experiments in 1H2O and in 2H2O have been used to probe aromatic ring interactions and to identify residues which are part of the hydrophobic core centered at the Leu46 side chain. Overall, the data indicate a strong structural homology among the three plasminogen kringles.

Histidine↗

PubMed2000

Disruption of interkringle disulfide bond of plasminogen kringle 1-3 changes the lysine binding capability of kringle 2, but not its antiangiogenic activity.

Kringle 1-3 of human plasminogen is a potent inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation. To understand a possible role for the unique cystine bridge between kringle 2 and kringle 3, we disrupted the interkringle disulfide bond by mutating Cys(169) and Cys(297) to serine residues. The yield of the mutant during the refolding process was decreased significantly. Anti-endothelial cell proliferative activity of the mutant was similar to that of the wild type. There was no significant difference in in vivo antiangiogenic activity between the wild type and the mutant in chorioallantoic membrane assay. However, in the mutant, the weak lysine binding capability of kringle 2 was not detected and its mobility in nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is different from that of the wild type. These results support the notion that the overall antiangiogenic function of angiostatin is mediated by individual kringles, and suggest that the lysine binding capability of kringle 2 is likely not important for the antiangiogenic activity of kringle 1-3.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed1993

Functional independence of the kringle 4 and kringle 5 regions of human plasminogen.

As part of continuing studies to evaluate whether the kringle domain regions of human plasminogen (HPg) exhibit independent conformational properties, simple model systems are required. Toward this end, we have constructed cDNA regions of HPg encoding its kringle 4 ([K4HPg]) and kringle 4-5 ([K4HPgK5HPg]) regions, expressed these gene fragments in bacterial cells, and purified the recombinant (r) products. The resulting r-[K4HPgK5HPg] was also employed to obtain the r-[K5HPg] domain of HPg by limited elastolytic digestion of this double-kringle polypeptide. The omega-amino acid ligand binding properties and thermal denaturation characteristics of r-[K4HPg], r-[K5HPg], and r-[K4HPgK5HPg] were determined, along with those for the [K5HPg] domain linked to the protease (P) region of HPg ([K5HPg]P). This allowed us to evaluate whether the conformational properties of the [K5HPg] module were influenced by the presence of its neighboring domains in HPg. The temperature midpoint of maximum heat capacity, Tm (and calorimetric enthalpy, delta H), for thermal denaturation of r-[K4HPg] was 57.8 degrees C (79.8 kcal/mol) in the absence of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) and 70.8 degrees C (93.7 kcal/mol) in the presence of that ligand. The corresponding values for isolated r-[K5HPg] were 50.4 degrees C (78.4 kcal/mol) and 61.0 degrees C (89.8 kcal/mol), respectively. These parameters for the isolated kringles were essentially unchanged when these same kringle domains were present in the r-[K4HPgK5HPg] and [K5HPg]P covalently linked pairs. Similarly, the thermodynamic characteristics (delta G, delta H, and delta S) that describe the binding energy of EACA to r-[K4HPg] at 25 degrees C were -6.3 kcal/mol, -4.5 kcal/mol, and 6.0 eu, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1986

On the interaction of the finger and the kringle-2 domain of tissue-type plasminogen activator with fibrin. Inhibition of kringle-2 binding to fibrin by epsilon-amino caproic acid.

The binding of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) to fibrin is mediated both by its finger domain and by its kringle-2 domain. In this report, we investigate the relative affinities of these domains for lysine. Human recombinant t-PA deletion-mutant proteins were prepared and their ability to bind to lysine-Sepharose was investigated. Mutants containing the kringle-2 domain bound to lysine-Sepharose, whereas mutants lacking this domain but containing the finger domain, the epidermal growth factor domain or the kringle-1 domain did not bind to lysine-Sepharose. Mutant proteins containing the kringle-2 domain could be specifically eluted from lysine-Sepharose with epsilon-amino caproic acid. This lysine derivative also abolished fibrin binding by the kringle-2 domain but had no effect on the fibrin-binding property of the finger domain. Thus, a lysine-binding site is involved in the interaction of the kringle-2 domain with fibrin but not in the interaction of the finger domain with fibrin. The implications of the nature of these two distinct interactions of t-PA with fibrin on plasminogen activation by t-PA will be discussed.

Aminocaproates↗

PubMed2000

Mutational analysis of affinity and selectivity of kringle-tetranectin interaction. Grafting novel kringle affinity ontp the trtranectin lectin scaffold.

C-type lectin-like domains are found in many proteins, where they mediate binding to a wide diversity of compounds, including carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. The binding of a C-type lectin-like domain to a ligand is often influenced by calcium. Recently, we have identified a site in the C-type lectin-like domain of tetranectin, involving Lys-148, Glu-150, and Asp-165, which mediates calcium-sensitive binding to plasminogen kringle 4. Here, we investigate the effect of conservative substitutions of these and a neighboring amino acid residue. Substitution of Thr-149 in tetranectin with a tyrosine residue considerably increases the affinity for plasminogen kringle 4, and, in addition, confers affinity for plasminogen kringle 2. As shown by isothermal titration calorimetry analysis, this new interaction is stronger than the binding of wild-type tetranectin to plasminogen kringle 4. This study provides further insight into molecular determinants of importance for binding selectivity and affinity of C-type lectin kringle interactions.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Lysine/fibrin binding sites of kringles modeled after the structure of kringle 1 of prothrombin.

The Lys binding site of kringle 1 and 4 (K1 and K4) of plasminogen (PG) has been modeled on the basis of the three-dimensional structure of kringle 1 of prothrombin and 300- and 600-MHZ proton nuclear magnetic resonance observations. These structures were then compared to the corresponding regions of modeled kringle 1 and 2 of tissue plasminogen activator (PA). The coordinates of the modeled structures have been refined by energy minimization in the presence and absence of epsilon-aminocaproic acid ligand in order basically to remove unacceptable van der Waals contacts. The binding site is characterized by an apparent dipolar surface, the polar parts of which are separated by a hydrophobic region of highly conserved aromatic residues. Zwitterionic ligands such as Lys and epsilon-aminocaproic acid form ion pair interactions with Asp55 and Asp57 located on the dipolar surface; the latter are also conserved in all the Lys binding kringles. The cationic center of the dipolar surface is Arg71, in the case of PGK4, and is composed of Arg34 and Arg71 in PGK1. The doubly charged anionic/cationic interaction centers of the latter might account for the larger binding constants of PGK1 for like-ligands but the modeling suggests that PGK4 might be kinetically faster in binding bulkier ligands. The binding site region of PAK2, which also binds Lys, resembles those of PGK1 and PGK4. Since PAK2 lacks both cationic center Arg residues, ligand carboxylate binding appears to be accomplished though an imidazolium ion of His64, which is located just below the outer surface of the kringle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Expression of apolipoprotein(a) kringle IV type 9 in Escherichia coli: demonstration of a specific interaction between kringle IV type 9 and apolipoproteinB-100.

A number of studies have provided evidence that lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] assembly is a two-step process in which initial non-covalent interactions between apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] and apolipoproteinB-100 (apoB-100) precede specific disulfide bond formation. We have designed a construct encoding apo(a) kringle IV type 9 (KIV9) in which the unpaired cysteine at position 67 in this kringle is replaced with a tyrosine. The single kringle was expressed in bacteria and purified to homogeneity from cell homogenates. The purified derivative (designated KIV9deltaCys) was assessed for its ability to bind to purified human LDL. This interaction was detected either by ELISA using immobilized LDL or by column chromatography in which LDL binding to KIV9deltaCys immobilized on Ni2+-Sepharose was determined. In both cases, the interaction of KIV9deltaCys and LDL was observed. Further, we demonstrated that the binding interaction was sensitive to the addition of amino acids including lysine, the lysine analogue epsilon-aminocaproic acid, arginine, phenylalanine and proline, with arginine and lysine having the greatest inhibitory effect. Binding of KIV9deltaCys to an immobilized apoB peptide spanning residues 3732-3745 of apoB was also demonstrated by ELISA. As was the case for LDL, this binding interaction was sensitive to the addition of arginine and lysine. Computer modeling of KIV9 demonstrated an excellent fit with residues 3732-3738 (PSCKLDF) of the apoB peptide. The modeling predicts the presence of overlapping lysine and phenylalanine-binding pockets in KIV9 which explains the inhibitory effects of lysine, arginine and phenylalanine which were observed in the binding assays. In summary, this study represents the first demonstration that KIV9 can interact directly with LDL through non-covalent interactions which may contribute to the first step of Lp(a) formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Comparison of the effects of Apo(a) kringle IV-10 and plasminogen kringles on the interactions of lipoprotein(a) with regulatory molecules.

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is associated with atherosclerosis and with disease processes involving thrombosis. Lp(a) contains apoprotein (a) [apo(a)], which has a sequence highly homologous to plasminogen. Hence, Lp(a) binds directly to extracellular matrix, cellular plasminogen receptors and fibrin(ogen) and competes for the binding of plasminogen to these regulatory surfaces. These interactions may contribute to the proatherothrombogenic consequences of high Lp(a) levels. These interactions are mediated by lysine binding sites (LBS). Therefore, we examined the role of apo(a) kringle IV-10 [the only apo(a) kringle demonstrated to exhibit lysine binding activity in the intact lipoprotein] in the interaction of Lp(a) with these regulatory molecules. We have compared directly apo(a) KIV-10 with plasminogen K4 to examine whether these highly structurally homologous kringle modules are also functionally homologous. Futhermore, because the plasminogen K5-protease domain (K5-PD) binds directly to fibrin, we have also examined the ability of this plasminogen fragment to inhibit the interaction of Lp(a) with these regulatory molecules and with extracellular matrix. Apo(a) KIV-10 competed effectively for the binding of 125I-Lp(a) to these surfaces but was less effective than either intact Lp(a), plasminogen K4 or plasminogen. Plasminogen KS-PD was a better competitor than apo(a) KIV-10 for 125I-Lp(a) binding to the representative extracellular matrix, Matrigel, and to plasmin-treated fibrinogen. In contrast, plasminogen K5-PD did not compete for the interaction of Lp(a) with cells, although it effectively competed for plasminogen binding. These results suggest that Lp(a) recognizes sites in all of the regulatory molecules that are also recognized by apo(a) KIV-10 and that Lp(a) recognizes sites in extracellular matrix and in plasmin-modified fibrinogen that also are recognized by plasminogen K5-PD. Thus, the interaction of Lp(a) with cells is clearly distinct from that with extracellular matrix and with plasmin-treated fibrinogen and the recognition sites within Lp(a) and plasminogen for these regulatory molecules are not identical.

Apolipoproteins A↗