Identification of a functionally relevant signal peptide of mouse ficolin A

J Biochem Mol Biol. 2007 Jul 31;40(4):532-8. doi: 10.5483/bmbrep.2007.40.4.532.

Abstract

Mouse ficolin A is a plasma protein with lectin activity, and plays a role in host defense by binding carbohydrates, especially GlcNAc, on microorganisms. The ficolin A subunit consists of an N-terminal signal peptide, a collagen-like domain, and a C-terminal fibrinogen-like domain. In this study, we show that ficolin A can be synthesized and oligomerized in a cell and secreted into culture medium. We also identify a functionally relevant signal peptide of ficolin A by using MS/MS analysis to determine the N-terminal sequence of secreted ficolin A. When the signal peptide of mouse ficolin A was fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), EGFP was released into HEK 293 cell medium, suggesting that the signal peptide can efficiently direct ficolin A secretion. Moreover, our results suggest that the signal peptide of ficolin A has potential application for the production of useful secretory proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Carbohydrates
  • Cell Line
  • Ficolins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lectins / chemistry*
  • Lectins / isolation & purification
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Sorting Signals*
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Lectins
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins