Strain-dependent glutathionylation of fibronectin fibers impacts mechano-chemical behavior and primes an integrin switch

Wei Li, Leandro Moretti, Xinya Su, Chiuan-Ren Yeh, Matthew P. Torres and Thomas H. Barker ()
Additional contact information
Wei Li: Georgia Institute of Technology
Leandro Moretti: University of Virginia
Xinya Su: Georgia Institute of Technology
Chiuan-Ren Yeh: University of Virginia
Matthew P. Torres: Georgia Institute of Technology
Thomas H. Barker: University of Virginia

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a protein polymer network that physically supports cells within a tissue. It acts as an important physical and biochemical stimulus directing cell behaviors. For fibronectin (Fn), a predominant component of the ECM, these physical and biochemical activities are inextricably linked as physical forces trigger conformational changes that impact its biochemical activity. Here, we analyze whether oxidative post-translational modifications, specifically glutathionylation, alter Fn’s mechano-chemical characteristics through stretch-dependent protein modification. ECM post-translational modifications represent a potential for time- or stimulus-dependent changes in ECM structure-function relationships that could persist over time with potentially significant impacts on cell and tissue behaviors. In this study, we show evidence that glutathionylation of Fn ECM fibers is stretch-dependent and alters Fn fiber mechanical properties with implications on the selectivity of engaging integrin receptors. These data demonstrate the existence of multimodal post-translational modification mechanisms within the ECM with high relevance to the microenvironmental regulation of downstream cell behaviors.

Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52742-3 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-52742-3

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52742-3

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().