We have isolated and characterized four collagen-related c-DNA clones (N-COL 1, N-COL 2, N-COL 3, N-COL 4) that are highly expressed in developing nematocytes in hydra. All four c-DNAs as well as their corresponding transcripts are small in size (600-1,000 bp). The deduced amino acid sequences show that they contain a central region consisting of 14 to 16 Gly-X-Y triplets. This region is flanked amino-terminal by a stretch of 14-23 proline residues and carboxy-terminal by a stretch of 6-9 prolines. At the NH2- and COOH-termini are repeated patterns of cysteine residues that are highly conserved between the molecules. A model is proposed which consists of a central stable collagen triple helix of 12-14 nm length from which three 9-22 nm long polyproline II type helices emerge at both ends. Disulfide linkage between cysteine-rich segments in these helices could lead to the formation of oligomeric network structures. Electrophoretic characterization of nematocyst extracts allows resolution of small proline-rich polypeptides that correspond in size to the cloned sequences.
Article|
November 15 1991
Mini-collagens in hydra nematocytes.
E M Kurz,
E M Kurz
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
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T W Holstein,
T W Holstein
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
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B M Petri,
B M Petri
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
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J Engel,
J Engel
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
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C N David
C N David
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
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E M Kurz
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
T W Holstein
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
B M Petri
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
J Engel
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
C N David
Department of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany.
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
J Cell Biol (1991) 115 (4): 1159–1169.
Citation
E M Kurz, T W Holstein, B M Petri, J Engel, C N David; Mini-collagens in hydra nematocytes.. J Cell Biol 15 November 1991; 115 (4): 1159–1169. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.115.4.1159
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