The Nature of the Collagen Synthesized by Cultured Human Fibroblasts

Abstract

The hydroxyproline-containing proteins (hyproproteins) synthesized by cultured human fibroblasts have been partially characterized. The hyproprotein extracted from the cell layer was found to be similar to the collagen extracted from skin in the ratio of hydroxyproline to proline, chain composition, solubility, and resistance to proteolytic digestion. The hyproproteins isolated from the medium were different. About 20% of the peptide-bound hydroxyproline was found in randomly coiled chains. The α2 chains were present in considerable excess over the α1 chains, suggesting that the α2 chain may be synthesized in quantities greater than required to form a collagen molecule with a chain composition (α1) 2 α2. The remaining medium hyproprotein appeared to be an unusual form of native collagen which, unlike typical native collagen, was soluble under physiological conditions. This hyproprotein did not yield α chains when denatured and contained material that had a molecular weight greater than α chains. A similar size distribution was observed in the protein synthesized in the presence of β-aminopropionitrile, a specific inhibitor of collagen cross-linking. After treatment with pepsin, typical α1 and α2 chains were obtained from the protein in a 2:1 ratio. Since the medium protein is soluble and has properties different from the typical collagen molecule, it may represent a modified form that functions in the transport of collagen from the cell to the fiber.