The C-terminal domain of matrilin-2 assembles into a three-stranded alpha-helical coiled coil

Matrilin-2 is a member of von Willebrand factor A containing extracellular matrix proteins in which the cDNA-derived sequence shows similar domain organization to cartilage matrix protein/matrilin-1, but information on the protein structure is limited. Here we studied the oligomerization potential of a synthetic peptide NH2-ENLILFQNVANEEVRKLTQRLEEMTQRMEALENRLKYR-COOH corresponding to the C-terminal sequence of mouse matrilin-2. The central portion of this sequence shows a periodicity of hydrophobic residues occupying positions a and d of a heptad pattern (abcdefg)n, which is characteristic for alpha-helical coiled-coil proteins. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed a high alpha-helical content, and the shape of the spectra is indicative for a coiled-coil conformation. Chemical cross-linking and size exclusion chromatography suggest a homotrimeric configuration. Thermal denaturation in benign buffer shows a single cooperative transition with DeltaH0 = -375 kJ/mol. Melting temperatures Tm varied from 38 to 51 degreesC within a concentration range of 10 to 85 microM, which is about 35 degreesC lower than determined for a peptide corresponding to the C-terminal domain of matrilin-1. The data suggest that despite the low sequence identity within this region, matrilin-2 will form a homotrimer as matrilin-1 does.