Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Investigation of Growth Factor Dynamics in Three Dimensional Extracellular Matrices

Published

October 16, 2008

Author(s)

Michael Weir, Chengqing C. Wang, Vivek Prabhu, Eric K. Lin, K Yamada, N Washburn

Abstract

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy was used to measure the binding and diffusion of growth factors in model extracellular matrices in order to investigate the importance of protein-matrix interactions in regulating signaling molecules within a three-dimensional matrix. Two important growth factors were studied, transforming growth factor b1 and basic fibroblast growth factor, which are known to have specific affinities for fibronectin and the heparan-sulfate-proteoglycan perlecan, respectively. Collagen-based matrices were prepared by gelling monomeric type I collagen in the presence of fibronectin or perlecan, and we measured diffusion constants and binding constants of the two growth factors.The binding constant measured for transforming growth factor b1 with fibronectin matrices was in good agreement with that measured using affinity chromatography. However, the interactions measured between fibroblast growth factor and perlecan were significantly weaker than expected. Surprisingly, the strongest interactions by far were with monomeric collagen solutions and fibrillar collagen matrices. Our findings suggest a central role for the three-dimensional fibrillar collagen matrix in growth factor interactions, with modulatory roles for fibronectin or perlecan.

Citation

Biophysical Journal

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

collagen, diffusion, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, gel, growth factor

Citation

Weir, M. , Wang, C. , Prabhu, V. , Lin, E. , Yamada, K. and Washburn, N. (2008), Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Investigation of Growth Factor Dynamics in Three Dimensional Extracellular Matrices, Biophysical Journal (Accessed October 9, 2025)