Protease activation of α2-Macroglobulin modulates a chaperone-like action with broad specificity
RIS ID
21925
Abstract
α2-Macroglobulin (α2M) is a major human blood glycoprotein best known for its ability to inhibit a broad spectrum of proteases by a unique trapping method. This action induces an “activated” conformation of α2M with an exposed binding site for the low density lipoprotein receptor, facilitating clearance of α2M-protease complexes from the body. This report establishes that protease activation also modulates a potent chaperone-like action of α2M which has broad specificity for proteins partly unfolded as a result of heat or oxidative stress. Protease-mediated activation of α2M abolishes its chaperone-like activity. However, native α2M is able to form soluble complexes with stressed proteins and then subsequently become activated by interacting with a protease, providing a potential mechanism for the in vivo clearance of α2M/stressed protein/ protease complexes. We propose that α2M is a newly discovered and unique member of a small group of abundant extracellular proteins with chaperone properties that patrol extracellular spaces for unfolded/misfolded proteins and facilitate their disposal.
Publication Details
French, K., Yerbury, J. J. & Wilson, M. R. (2008). Protease activation of α2-Macroglobulin modulates a chaperone-like action with broad specificity. Biochemistry, 47 (4), 1176-1185.