Single molecule measurements on von Willebrand factor A1 and A2 domains

描述(申请人提供)：血管性血友病因子(VWF)是一种串联的血浆糖蛋白，具有多种止血功能。Von Willebrand病(VWD)中VWF的突变是遗传性出血性疾病的最常见原因。VWF的长度或每个连接体的单体数量以及在血管中的流动调节着VWF的止血和血栓效力。VWF起到流量传感器的作用，微动脉出血处的流量增加，并与内皮下胶原结合，激活VWF。VWF中的A1结构域与血小板上的糖蛋白Ib1结合形成止血栓。ADAMTS13是一种切割VWF A2结构域的酶，只有在流体动力作用下A2结构域解开后才能切割，从而调节内皮细胞和血小板以超大形式分泌后的大小分布。遗传性或获得性ADAMTS13缺陷可导致危及生命的血栓性血小板减少性紫癜(TTP)。在这里，我们研究了A1和A2结构域，这两个结构域在VWF的剪切传感器功能中特别重要，它们的突变分别导致VWD2B和2A型的定性缺陷。为了了解这些结构域在生理环境中的功能，在体内施加张力，我们使用激光镊子对分离的结构域施加张力力，并使用DNA手柄将结构域连接到珠子上。选定的A2结构域中的2A型突变将被用来检验患者之间存在异质性的假设，即A2结构域是以较低的力展开、对机械更敏感、还是折叠更慢，从而增加对ADAMTS13的敏感性。在更大结构上的实验将测试与A2相邻的结构域在抗力方面的作用。单分子(现实主义)中的受体和配体将被用来表征A1-GPIb1受体-配体键的生理相关力依赖性，以及VWD 2B型突变如何增强这一键。Realism是一种融合蛋白，由A1结构域的N到C末端、多肽连接物和GPIb1的富含亮氨酸的重复结构域组成。我们发现，受体-配体络合物在低力时表现为柔性键，在低力时具有一种状态(状态1，弯曲)，在高力时具有较强的状态(状态2，扩展)。对健康的受体-配体复合体的实验将进一步表征该键的精细结构和动力学。对功能类型2B和血小板型VWD突变的获得的实验将检验它们稳定地切换到状态2的假设。现实主义的使用首次允许我们测量受体与配体结合的开启速率的力依赖性。我们将检验这个假设，即张力减缓了相遇络合物向结合络合物的转化。此外，我们将检查在从状态2解离后，受体或配体在状态2中的构象是否能够保持不变，并提高成键速度。这一结果将与我们改善VWD和血栓性血小板减少性紫癜的诊断和治疗以及开发A1-GPIb1复合体的拮抗剂以预防血栓形成的长期目标相关。这些结果也将对理解受体-配体键的专一性具有广泛的意义，受体-配体键使血管中的细胞黏附能够抵抗强大的流体动力。1

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a concatameric plasma glycoprotein that has multiple functions in hemostasis. Mutations in VWF in von Willebrand disease (VWD) are the most common cause of heritable bleeding disorders. The length, or number of monomers per concatamer, and flow in blood vessels regulate the hemostatic and thrombotic potency of VWF. VWF acts as a flow sensor, and elevated flow at sites of bleeding in arterioles, and binding to subendothelial collagen, activate VWF. The A1 domain in VWF binds to glycoprotein Ib1 on platelets to form a hemostatic plug. ADAMTS13 is an enzyme that cleaves the A2 domain of VWF, and by cleaving only after unfolding of the A2 domain by hydrodynamic force, regulates its size distribution after secretion in an ultralarge form from endothelial cells and platelets. Inherited or acquired deficiency of ADAMTS13 causes life-threatening thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Here, we study the A1 and A2 domains, which are particularly important in the shear sensor function of VWF, mutations of which cause qualitative defects in VWD type 2B and 2A, respectively. To appreciate the functions of these domains in the physiologic setting in which tensile force is applied them in vivo, we apply tensile force to the isolated domains using laser tweezers and novel constructs in which the domains are linked to beads using DNA handles. Selected type 2A mutations in the A2 domain will be used to test the hypothesis that there is heterogeneity among patients in whether the A2 domain unfolds at lower force, is more mechanically sensitive, or refolds more slowly, increasing sensitivity to ADAMTS13. Experiments on larger constructs will test the role of domains that neighbor A2 in force-resistance. A Receptor and Ligand in a Single Molecule (ReaLiSM) will be used to characterize the physiologically-relevant force-dependence of the A1-GPIb1 receptor-ligand bond, and how VWD type 2B mutations enhance this bond. ReaLISM is a fusion protein that consists from N to C- terminus of the A1 domain, a polypeptide linker, and the leucine-rich repeat domain of GPIb1. We have found that the receptor-ligand complex acts as a flex-bond, with one state (state 1, flexed) at low force, and a stronger state with lower koff0 at high force (state 2, extended). Experiments on the healthy receptor-ligand complex will further characterize the fine structure and kinetics of this bond. Experiments on gain of function type 2B and platelet-type VWD mutations will test the hypothesis that they stabilize switching to state 2. The use of ReaLiSM for the first time allows us to measure the force dependence of the on-rate for receptor binding to ligand. We will test the hypothesis that tensile force slows the conversion of encounter complexes to the bound complex. Furthermore, we will examine whether after dissociation from state 2, the conformation of the receptor or ligand in state 2 can persist, and enhance the rate of bond formation. The results will be relevant to our long-term goal of improving the diagnosis and treatment of VWD and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and developing antagonists of the A1-GPIb1 complex to prevent thrombosis. The results will also be of wide significance for understanding the specializations of receptor-ligand bonds that enable cell adhesion in the vasculature to resist strong hydrodynamic forces. 1