Chandrasekhar S, Kleinman H K, Hassell J R
J Biol Chem. 1983 May 25;258(10):6226-31.
Link protein (Mr = 42,000) is an integral component of cartilage as well as of some noncartilagenous tissues. In cartilage, it forms a macromolecular complex with cartilage proteoglycan and hyaluronic acid, but its function in other tissues is unknown. We provide evidence here that the link protein of cartilage binds well to native collagen types I and III. The binding occurs only if both link protein and collagen are native. The binding of link protein to collagen type fibrils is higher than to monomeric collagen. Link protein binding to collagen fibrils is saturable and occurs at molar ratio of collagen to link protein of 7-13:1. These data suggest that the link protein binds to collagen and that the binding requires the collagen to be in its native triple helical structure. This interaction may play a role in collagen fibril formation.
连接蛋白（分子量 = 42,000）是软骨以及一些非软骨组织的一个组成成分。在软骨中，它与软骨蛋白聚糖和透明质酸形成大分子复合物，但其在其他组织中的功能尚不清楚。我们在此提供证据表明，软骨连接蛋白与天然I型和III型胶原结合良好。只有连接蛋白和胶原均为天然状态时才会发生结合。连接蛋白与胶原纤维的结合高于与单体胶原的结合。连接蛋白与胶原纤维的结合是可饱和的，且在胶原与连接蛋白的摩尔比为7 - 13:1时发生。这些数据表明连接蛋白与胶原结合，且这种结合要求胶原处于其天然三螺旋结构。这种相互作用可能在胶原纤维形成中起作用。
