Work

Poly(ADP-ribose) binding sites on collagen I fibrils for nucleating intrafibrillar bone mineral

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Bone calcification is essential for vertebrate life. The mechanism by which mineral ions are transported into collagen fibrils to induce intrafibrillar mineral formation requires a calcium binding biopolymer that also has highly selective binding to the collagen fibril hole zones where intrafibrillar calcification begins, over other bone extracellular matrix components. Poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) has been shown to be a candidate biopolymer for this process and we show here that PAR has high affinity, highly conserved binding sites in the collagen type I C-terminal telopeptides. The identification of these PAR-collagen binding sites gives insights into the chemical mechanisms underlying bone calcification and possible mechanisms behind pathologies where there is dysfunctional bone calcification.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2414849122

Authors: Marco A. Zecca, Heather F. Greer, Karin H. Müller, Melinda J. Duer

Institutions: University of Cambridge, Cambridge Advanced Imaging Centre

Language: English

Topic: Bone and Dental Protein Studies

Subfield: Rheumatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: UK Research and Innovation, European Commission, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council