Recombinant expression a novel fibronectin-collage fusion peptide modulating stem cell stemness via integrin β3

Constructing bionic extracellular matrix (ECM) is an attractive proposition for tissue engineering and clinical regeneration therapy involving the stemness of stem cells. Here, a novel recombinant protein fibronectin-collagen peptide (FCP) was designed to modulate the function of ECM expressed by Picha. pastoris strain X33. This FCP promotes cell migration and adhesion and maintains rBMSC stemness by binding integrin beta 3. Its effects were blocked by both integrin beta 3 siRNA and the integrin beta 3 inhibitor Cilengitide. A template-independent ab initio prediction modeling approach is the best approach to construct a stable FCP protein model, which predicts the binding sites between FCP and integrin beta 3. FCP may be used in the in vitro culture and clinical regeneration of stem cells that highly express integrin beta 3, such as hematopoietic stem cells. The study provides information on the molecular structure of FCP and its bioactivity, which can be used to design new compounds.

Automated summary

A novel recombinant protein FCP was designed to modulate the function of extracellular matrix (ECM) and promote cell migration and adhesion, while maintaining stemness of stem cells. The construction of a stable FCP protein model was achieved through a template-independent ab initio prediction modeling approach, which predicted the binding sites between FCP and integrin beta 3. This study provides important information on the molecular structure and bioactivity of FCP, which can be used for designing new compounds.