0000000000435296
AUTHOR
Michael Kuske
The C-terminal region of human plasma fetuin-B is dispensable for the raised-elephant-trunk mechanism of inhibition of astacin metallopeptidases
© The Author(s) 2019.
Structure of mammalian plasma fetuin-B and its mechanism of selective metallopeptidase inhibition
The co-crystal structure of the metallopeptidase astacin with its specific protein inhibitor fetuin-B reveals a novel mechanism of inhibition.
Density of conjugated antibody determines the extent of Fc receptor dependent capture of nanoparticles by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells
Despite considerable progress in the design of multifunctionalized nanoparticles (NPs) that selectively target specific cell types, their systemic application often results in unwanted liver accumulation. The exact mechanisms for this general observation are still unclear. Here we asked whether the number of cell-targeting antibodies per NP determines the extent of NP liver accumulation and also addressed the mechanisms by which antibody-coated NPs are retained in the liver. We used polysarcosine-based peptobrushes (PBs), which in an unmodified form remain in the circulation for >24 h due to the absence of a protein corona formation and low unspecific cell binding, and conjugated them with …
The E-modulus of the oocyte is a non-destructive measure of zona pellucida hardening
Reproduction 162(4), 259-266 (2021). doi:10.1530/REP-21-0122
Mammalian plasma fetuin-B is a selective inhibitor of ovastacin and meprin metalloproteinases
AbstractVertebrate fetuins are multi-domain plasma-proteins of the cystatin-superfamily. Human fetuin-A is also known as AHSG, α2-Heremans-Schmid-glycoprotein. Gene-knockout in mice identified fetuin-A as essential for calcified-matrix-metabolism and bone-mineralization. Fetuin-B deficient mice, on the other hand, are female infertile due to zona pellucida ‘hardening’ caused by the metalloproteinase ovastacin in unfertilized oocytes. In wildtype mice fetuin-B inhibits the activity of ovastacin thus maintaining oocytes fertilizable. Here we asked, if fetuins affect further proteases as might be expected from their evolutionary relation to single-domain-cystatins, known as proteinase-inhibito…
Intracellular activation of ovastacin mediates pre-fertilization hardening of the zona pellucida
Study question How and where is pro-ovastacin activated and how does active ovastacin regulate zona pellucida hardening (ZPH) and successful fertilization? Study finding Ovastacin is partially active before exocytosis and pre-hardens the zona pellucida (ZP) before fertilization. What is known already The metalloproteinase ovastacin is stored in cortical granules, it cleaves zona pellucida protein 2 (ZP2) upon fertilization and thereby destroys the ZP sperm ligand and triggers ZPH. Female mice deficient in the extracellular circulating ovastacin-inhibitor fetuin-B are infertile due to pre-mature ZPH. Study design, samples/materials, methods We isolated oocytes from wild-type and ovastacin-de…
Limited proteolysis by acrosin affects sperm-binding and mechanical resilience of the mouse zona pellucida.
Abstract The encounter of oocyte and sperm is the key event initiating embryonic development in mammals. Crucial functions of this existential interaction are determined by proteolytic enzymes, such as acrosin, carried in the sperm head acrosome, and ovastacin, stored in the oocyte cortical granules. Ovastacin is released upon fertilisation to cleave the zona pellucida, a glycoprotein matrix surrounding the oocyte. This limited proteolysis hardens the oocyte envelope, and thereby provides a definitive block against polyspermy and protects the developing embryo. On the other hand, acrosin, the renowned and most abundant acrosomal protease, has been thought to enable sperm to penetrate the oo…