biostudies-literatureUnknown14Bozzi M<h4>Background</h4>α-Dystroglycan (α-DG) is heavily glycosylated within its central mucin-like domain. The glycosylation shell of α-dystroglycan is known to largely influence its functional properties toward extracellular ligands. The structural features of this α-dystroglycan domain have been poorly studied so far. For the first time, we have attempted a recombinant expression approach in E. coli cells, in order to analyze by biochemical and biophysical techniques this important domain of the α-dystroglycan core protein.<h4>Results</h4>We expressed the recombinant mucin-like domain of human α-dystroglycan in E. coli cells, and purified it as a soluble peptide of 174 aa. A cleavage event, that progressively emerges under repeated cycles of freeze/thaw, occurs at the carboxy side of Arg461,BMC biochemistry15https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3704865biostudies-literatureProbing the stability of the "naked" mucin-like domain of human α-dystroglycan.PMC3704865Desiderio CDi Stasio EMartelli CBrancaccio AGiardina BSciandra FScaglione GLBozzi MfalseProbing the stability of the "naked" mucin-like domain of human α-dystroglycan.<h4>Background</h4>α-Dystroglycan (α-DG) is heavily glycosylated within its central mucin-like domain. The glycosylation shell of α-dystroglycan is known to largely influence its functional properties toward extracellular ligands. The structural features of this α-dystroglycan domain have been poorly studied so far. For the first time, we have attempted a recombinant expression approach in E. coli cells, in order to analyze by biochemical and biophysical techniques this important domain of the α-dystroglycan core protein.<h4>Results</h4>We expressed the recombinant mucin-like domain of human α-dystroglycan in E. coli cells, and purified it as a soluble peptide of 174 aa. A cleavage event, that progressively emerges under repeated cycles of freeze/thaw, occurs at the carboxy side of Arg461,2013-01-01T00:00:00Z2013 Jul2025-04-26T14:09:35.779Z2019-03-27T01:12:39ZS-EPMC37048652381585610.1186/1471-2091-14-15