Essential charged amino acids in the binding of fibronectin to gelatin.

The binding of fibronectin to gelatin-agarose was strictly dependent on pH, having a pH optimum of 7-9. The binding was strongly inhibited by increasing ionic strength. A chemical modification of lysyl and arginyl groups of fibronectin abolished the binding activity. The anionic detergents sodium dodecyl sulphate and sodium deoxycholate in concentrations of 10-100mM had the same effect. The binding was not affected by the non-ionic detergents Triton X-100, Tween 20 or Lubrol WX. The results demonstrate an important role of ionic interactions in the binding of fibronectin to gelatin. Absence of inhibition by non-ionic detergents suggests that hydrophobic interactions contribute relatively little to the binding of fibronectin to gelatin.