The serum protein histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) has been implicated in tissue injury and tumour growth. Several HRG functions are regulated by the divalent metal Zn2+ , including ligand binding and proteolytic processing that releases active HRG fragments. Although HRG can bind divalent metals other than Zn2+ , the impact of these divalent metals on the biophysical properties of HRG remains poorly understood. We now show that HRG binds Zn2+ , Ni2+ , Cu2+ and Co2+ with micromolar affinities, but differing stoichiometries, and regulate the release of specific HRG fragments during proteolysis. Furthermore, HRG binding to Zn2+ promotes HRG dimer formation in a Zn2+ -concentration- and pH-dependent manner. Our data highlight the complex divalent metal-dependent regulatory mechanisms that govern HRG function.
Keywords: divalent metals; histidine-rich glycoprotein; zinc.
© 2016 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.