The present invention relates to the gene PLOD2 which codes for telopeptide lysyl hydroxylase (TLH). This enzyme converts telopeptidyl Lys into telopeptidyl Hyl, that can subsequently be converted into hydroxyallysine cross-links. Collagen with hydroxyallysine cross-links shows a higher resistance to degradation by proteinases than collagen with cross-links derived from allysine.
In one aspect, the invention provides methods and compositions to prepare collagenous materials with varying biodegradation rates by varying the ratio of hydroxyallysine cross-links over allysine cross-links. In another aspect, the invention provides methods and compositions to lower the ratio of hydroxyallysine cross-links over allysine cross-links in fibrotic processes, in order to obtain a collagenous network that is more easy to degrade. Furthermore, the invention provides methods to diagnose and/or monitor fibrotic processes by measuring mRNA levels of PLOD2, by measuring protein levels of the translated mRNA, and/or by measuring enzymatic activity levels of TLH. The invention also provides the description of a high through-put system facilitating the screening of antagonists of telopeptide lysyl hydroxylase.
本发明涉及编码端肽赖
氨酰羟化酶(TLH)的
基因 PLOD2。这种酶可将端肽赖
氨酸转化为端肽羟基,然后再转化为羟基烯丙基
氨酸交联。与具有烯丙基
氨酸交联的
胶原蛋白相比,具有羟基烯丙基
氨酸交联的
胶原蛋白具有更强的
抗蛋白酶降解能力。
一方面,本发明提供了通过改变羟基烯丙基
氨酸交联与烯丙基
氨酸交联的比例来制备具有不同
生物降解率的
胶原蛋白材料的方法和组合物。另一方面,本发明提供了在纤维化过程中降低羟基烯丙基
氨酸交联与烯丙基
氨酸交联比例的方法和组合物,以获得更易于降解的
胶原蛋白网络。此外,本发明还提供了通过测量 PLOD2 的 mRNA
水平、测量翻译后 mRNA 的蛋白质
水平和/或测量 TLH 的酶活性
水平来诊断和/或监测纤维化过程的方法。本发明还描述了一种高通量系统,便于筛选端肽赖
氨酰羟化酶的拮抗剂。