Submitted on January 7, 2009
Revised on August 26, 2009
Accepted on September 15, 2009
Defining elastic fiber interactions by molecular fishing: an affinity purification and mass spectrometry approach
Stuart A. Cain, Amanda McGovern, Elaine Small, Lyle J. Ward, Clair Baldock, Adrian Shuttleworth, and Cay M. Kielty
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT
Corresponding Author: stuart.a.cain{at}manchester.ac.uk
Deciphering interacting networks of the extracellular matrix is a major challenge. We describe an affinity purification and mass spectrometry strategy that has provided new insights into the molecular interactions of elastic fibers, essential extracellular assemblies that provide elastic recoil in dynamic tissues. Using cell culture models, we have defined primary and secondary elastic fiber interaction networks by identifying molecular interactions with the elastic fiber molecules, fibrillin-1, MAGP-1, fibulin-5 and lysyl oxidase. The sensitivity and validity of our method was confirmed by identification of known interactions with the bait proteins. Our study has revealed novel extracellular protein interactions with elastic fiber molecules, and delineated secondary interacting networks with fibronectin and heparan sulfate associated molecules. This strategy is a novel approach to define the macromolecular interactions that sustain complex extracellular matrix assemblies, and to gain insights into how they are integrated into their surrounding matrix.