O-glycans Expand Lubricin and Attenuate Its Viscosity and Shear Thinning.

ABSTRACT: Lubricin, an intrinsically disordered glycoprotein, plays a pivotal role in facilitating smooth movement and ensuring the enduring functionality of synovial joints. The central domain of this protein serves as a source of this excellent lubrication and is characterized by its highly glycosylated, negatively charged, and disordered structure. However, the influence of O-glycans on the viscosity of lubricin remains unclear. In this study, we employ molecular dynamics simulations in the absence and presence of shear, along with continuum simulations, to elucidate the intricate interplay between O-glycans and lubricin and the impact of O-glycans on lubricin's conformational properties and viscosity. We found the presence of O-glycans to induce a more extended conformation in fragments of the d

SUBMITTER: Boushehri S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11238335 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature