Skip to main content
PMC home page
Biochemical Journal logoLink to Biochemical Journal
. 1992 Feb 15;282(Pt 1):1–6. doi: 10.1042/bj2820001

Articular-cartilage matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein. Characterization and immunolocalization.

R Loeser 1, C S Carlson 1, H Tulli 1, W G Jerome 1, L Miller 1, R Wallin 1
PMCID: PMC1130882  PMID: 1540125

Abstract

Matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-containing protein (MGP) was found to be present in articular cartilage by Western-blot analysis of guanidinium chloride extracts of human and bovine cartilage and was further localized by immunohistochemical studies on human and monkey specimens. In newborn articular cartilage MGP was present diffusely throughout the matrix, whereas in growth-plate cartilage it was seen mainly in late hypertrophic and calcifying-zone chondrocytes. In adult articular cartilage MGP was present primarily in chondrocytes and the pericellular matrix. Immunoelectron microscopy studies revealed an association between MGP and vesicular structures with an appearance consistent with matrix vesicles. MGP may be an important regulator of cartilage calcification because of its localization in cartilage and the known affinity of Gla-containing proteins for Ca2+ and hydroxyapatite.

Full text

PDF
1

Images in this article

3Fig. 1.
on p.3
4Fig. 2.
on p.4
5Fig. 3.
on p.5

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ali S. Y. Apatite-type crystal deposition in arthritic cartilage. Scan Electron Microsc. 1985;(Pt 4):1555–1566. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ali S. Y., Sajdera S. W., Anderson H. C. Isolation and characterization of calcifying matrix vesicles from epiphyseal cartilage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1970 Nov;67(3):1513–1520. doi: 10.1073/pnas.67.3.1513. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Anderson H. C. Vesicles associated with calcification in the matrix of epiphyseal cartilage. J Cell Biol. 1969 Apr;41(1):59–72. doi: 10.1083/jcb.41.1.59. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Carlson C. S., Hilley H. D., Henrikson C. K. Ultrastructure of normal epiphyseal cartilage of the articular-epiphyseal cartilage complex in growing swine. Am J Vet Res. 1985 Feb;46(2):306–313. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Doyle D. V. Tissue calcification and inflammation in osteoarthritis. J Pathol. 1982 Mar;136(3):199–216. doi: 10.1002/path.1711360304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Feteih R., Tassinari M. S., Lian J. B. Effect of sodium warfarin on vitamin K-dependent proteins and skeletal development in the rat fetus. J Bone Miner Res. 1990 Aug;5(8):885–894. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.5650050813. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fraser J. D., Price P. A. Lung, heart, and kidney express high levels of mRNA for the vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla protein. Implications for the possible functions of matrix Gla protein and for the tissue distribution of the gamma-carboxylase. J Biol Chem. 1988 Aug 15;263(23):11033–11036. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gordon G. V., Villanueva T., Schumacher H. R., Gohel V. Autopsy study correlating degree of osteoarthritis, synovitis and evidence of articular calcification. J Rheumatol. 1984 Oct;11(5):681–686. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hale J. E., Fraser J. D., Price P. A. The identification of matrix Gla protein in cartilage. J Biol Chem. 1988 Apr 25;263(12):5820–5824. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hall J. G., Pauli R. M., Wilson K. M. Maternal and fetal sequelae of anticoagulation during pregnancy. Am J Med. 1980 Jan;68(1):122–140. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(80)90181-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Heinegård D., Paulsson M. Cartilage. Methods Enzymol. 1987;145:336–363. doi: 10.1016/0076-6879(87)45020-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Keller G. A., Tokuyasu K. T., Dutton A. H., Singer S. J. An improved procedure for immunoelectron microscopy: ultrathin plastic embedding of immunolabeled ultrathin frozen sections. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Sep;81(18):5744–5747. doi: 10.1073/pnas.81.18.5744. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Laemmli U. K. Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature. 1970 Aug 15;227(5259):680–685. doi: 10.1038/227680a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Loeser R. F., Jr, Wallin R. Vitamin K-dependent carboxylation in articular chondrocytes. Connect Tissue Res. 1991;26(3):135–144. doi: 10.3109/03008209109152432. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Mitchell N. S., Shepard N. L. Electron microscopic evaluation of the occurrence of matrix vesicles in cartilage. Anat Rec. 1990 Aug;227(4):397–404. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092270403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Nishimoto S. K. A colorimetric assay specific for gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing proteins: its utility in protein purification procedures. Anal Biochem. 1990 May 1;186(2):273–279. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(90)90079-o. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Otawara Y., Price P. A. Developmental appearance of matrix GLA protein during calcification in the rat. J Biol Chem. 1986 Aug 15;261(23):10828–10832. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Poole A. R., Matsui Y., Hinek A., Lee E. R. Cartilage macromolecules and the calcification of cartilage matrix. Anat Rec. 1989 Jun;224(2):167–179. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092240207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Price P. A. Gla-containing proteins of bone. Connect Tissue Res. 1989;21(1-4):51–60. doi: 10.3109/03008208909049995. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Price P. A., Urist M. R., Otawara Y. Matrix Gla protein, a new gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein which is associated with the organic matrix of bone. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1983 Dec 28;117(3):765–771. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(83)91663-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Price P. A., Williamson M. K., Haba T., Dell R. B., Jee W. S. Excessive mineralization with growth plate closure in rats on chronic warfarin treatment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1982 Dec;79(24):7734–7738. doi: 10.1073/pnas.79.24.7734. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Price P. A., Williamson M. K. Primary structure of bovine matrix Gla protein, a new vitamin K-dependent bone protein. J Biol Chem. 1985 Dec 5;260(28):14971–14975. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Tokuyasu K. T. Immunochemistry on ultrathin frozen sections. Histochem J. 1980 Jul;12(4):381–403. doi: 10.1007/BF01011956. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Wallin R., Martin L. F. Early processing of prothrombin and factor X by the vitamin K-dependent carboxylase. J Biol Chem. 1988 Jul 15;263(20):9994–10001. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Biochemical Journal are provided here courtesy of The Biochemical Society

RESOURCES