Fetuin-A is a mineral carrier protein: small angle neutron scattering provides new insight on Fetuin-A controlled calcification inhibition.

ABSTRACT: Clinical studies and animal experiments have shown that the serum protein fetuin-A is a highly effective inhibitor of soft tissue calcification. This inhibition mechanism was elucidated on the basis of an in vitro fetuin-A-mineral model system. In a previous study, we found that in a two-stage process ∼100-nm sized calciprotein particles (CPPs) were formed whose final stage was stabilized by a compact outer fetuin-A monolayer against further growth. Quantitative small-angle neutron scattering data analysis revealed that even at a fetuin-A concentration close to the stability limit, only approximately one-half of the mineral ions and only 5% of the fetuin-A were contained in the CPPs. To uncover the interplay of the remaining supersaturated mineral ion fraction and of the 95% non-CPP fetuin

SUBMITTER: Heiss A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3000477 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature