Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol.340, No.3, 836-839, 2006
Investigating the effect of VEGF glycosylation on glycosaminoglycan binding and protein unfolding
VEGF(165) binding to endothelial cells is potentiated by glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Here, we have investigated the impact of VEGF(165) N-glycosylation on GAG binding. Although glycosylated VEGF(165) bound to heparin with only slightly higher affinity than non-glycosylated VEGF(165), the natural ligand heparan sulfate induced a conformational change only in the glycosylated protein. Unfolding studies of the VEGF proteins indicated a stabilising effect of heparin on the growth factor structure. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.