BACKGROUND: Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a universal constituent of amyloid deposits and contributes to their pathogenesis. SAP also has important normal functions in the handling of chromatin in vivo and resistance to bacterial infection. The atomic resolution crystal structure of SAP is known, but its physiological oligomeric assembly remains controversial. In the absence of calcium, isolated human SAP forms stable decamers composed of two cyclic disk-like pentamers interacting face to face. However, in the presence of its specific low molecular weight ligands and calcium, SAP forms stable pentamers. In the presence of calcium, but without any ligand, isolated human SAP aggressively autoaggregates and precipitates, imposing severe constraints on methods for molecular mass determination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gel filtration chromatography and density gradient ultracentrifugation were used to compare SAP with the closely related molecule, C-reactive protein (CRP; which is known to be a single pentamer) and the effect of human serum albumin on SAP autoaggregation was investigated. RESULTS: In most physiological buffers and with the necessary absence of calcium, SAP, whether isolated or from whole serum samples, eluted from gel filtration columns clearly ahead of CRP. This is consistent with the existence of a monodisperse population of SAP decamers, as previously reported. However, in Tris/phosphate buffer, SAP was pentameric, suggesting that decamerization involved ionic interactions. On density gradients formed in undiluted normal human serum, SAP sedimented as single pentamers not complexed with any macromolecular ligand, regardless of the presence or absence of calcium. The calcium-dependent autoaggregation of isolated SAP was completely inhibited by physiological concentrations of albumin and the SAP remained pentameric. CONCLUSIONS: Human SAP exists within serum as single uncomplexed pentamers in the presence or absence of calcium. This oligomeric assembly, thus, does not require a calcium-dependent small molecule interaction. The usual >2000-fold molar excess of albumin over SAP in plasma is apparently sufficient to keep SAP in its physiological conformation.
BACKGROUND:Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a universal constituent of amyloid deposits and contributes to their pathogenesis. SAP also has important normal functions in the handling of chromatin in vivo and resistance to bacterial infection. The atomic resolution crystal structure of SAP is known, but its physiological oligomeric assembly remains controversial. In the absence of calcium, isolated humanSAP forms stable decamers composed of two cyclic disk-like pentamers interacting face to face. However, in the presence of its specific low molecular weight ligands and calcium, SAP forms stable pentamers. In the presence of calcium, but without any ligand, isolated humanSAP aggressively autoaggregates and precipitates, imposing severe constraints on methods for molecular mass determination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gel filtration chromatography and density gradient ultracentrifugation were used to compare SAP with the closely related molecule, C-reactive protein (CRP; which is known to be a single pentamer) and the effect of human serum albumin on SAP autoaggregation was investigated. RESULTS: In most physiological buffers and with the necessary absence of calcium, SAP, whether isolated or from whole serum samples, eluted from gel filtration columns clearly ahead of CRP. This is consistent with the existence of a monodisperse population of SAP decamers, as previously reported. However, in Tris/phosphate buffer, SAP was pentameric, suggesting that decamerization involved ionic interactions. On density gradients formed in undiluted normal human serum, SAP sedimented as single pentamers not complexed with any macromolecular ligand, regardless of the presence or absence of calcium. The calcium-dependent autoaggregation of isolated SAP was completely inhibited by physiological concentrations of albumin and the SAP remained pentameric. CONCLUSIONS:HumanSAP exists within serum as single uncomplexed pentamers in the presence or absence of calcium. This oligomeric assembly, thus, does not require a calcium-dependent small molecule interaction. The usual >2000-fold molar excess of albumin over SAP in plasma is apparently sufficient to keep SAP in its physiological conformation.
Authors: Simon E Kolstoe; Basil H Ridha; Vittorio Bellotti; Nan Wang; Carol V Robinson; Sebastian J Crutch; Geoffrey Keir; Riitta Kukkastenvehmas; J Ruth Gallimore; Winston L Hutchinson; Philip N Hawkins; Stephen P Wood; Martin N Rossor; Mark B Pepys Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2009-04-16 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Ana P Castaño; Shuei-Liong Lin; Teresa Surowy; Brian T Nowlin; Swathi A Turlapati; Tejas Patel; Ajay Singh; Shawn Li; Mark L Lupher; Jeremy S Duffield Journal: Sci Transl Med Date: 2009-11-04 Impact factor: 17.956
Authors: Richard H Gomer; Darrell Pilling; Lawrence M Kauvar; Stote Ellsworth; Sanna D Ronkainen; David Roife; Stephen C Davis Journal: Wound Repair Regen Date: 2009 May-Jun Impact factor: 3.617
Authors: Darrell Pilling; David Roife; Min Wang; Sanna D Ronkainen; Jeff R Crawford; Elizabeth L Travis; Richard H Gomer Journal: J Immunol Date: 2007-09-15 Impact factor: 5.422