Glycoproteins on the surface of smooth muscle cells involved in their interaction with type V collagen

Type V collagen is a major component of the pericellular coat of smooth cells (SMC). The purpose of the present study was to assess biochemically the nature of an in vitro interaction between bovine aortic SMC and type V collagen from the same source. This interaction was originally shown to be mediated by a cell-surface glycoconjugate. Data obtained in the present study suggests that the binding system consists of integral membrane glycoproteins which act alone or in combination with a surface glycolipid in type V attachment. The nature of this system was indicated by the finding of 80 000 and 50 000 components in the plasma membrane fractions which were specifically retained by type V collagen--Sepharose columns and incorporated both methionine and mannose label. Moreover, inhibition of protein synthesis lowered SMC attachment by 25%. The mannose label associated with these components was probably in the form of a simple oligosaccharide at the attachment site since it bound to concanavalin A (ConA) and was sensitive to endoglycosidase H. Iodinated ConA labelling indicated elevated levels of these components were associated with SMC--type V collagen interaction. The attachment region on the type V molecule was localized within the cyanogen bromide peptide 6 of the alpha 2 (V) chain.