Conformation and self-association of human recombinant transforming growth factor-β3 in aqueous solutions

The transforming growth factors-beta (TGF-beta) are important regulatory peptides for cell growth and differentiation with therapeutic potential for wound healing. Among the several TGF-beta isoforms TGF-beta 3 has a particularly low solubility at physiological pH and easily forms aggregates. A spectroscopic structural analysis of TGF-beta 3 in solution has thus been difficult. In this study, circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to determine the secondary structural elements of TGF-beta 3, In addition, the aggregation of TGF-beta 3 was investigated systematically as a function of pH and salt concentration using a rapid screening method, Sedimentation equilibrium and sedimentation velocity analysis revealed that TGF-beta S exists predominantly in two major forms: (i) monomers in solution at low pH and (ii) large precipitating aggregates at physiological pH, Under acidic conditions (pH < 3.8) the protein was not aggregated, At pH similar to 3.9, a monomer reversible arrow dimer equilibrium could be detected that transformed into larger aggregates at pH > 4.1, Aggregation was pronounced in the pH range of 4.3 < pH < 9.8 with the aggregation maximum between pH 6.5 and 8.5. The aggregation process was accompanied by a structural change of the protein, The CD spectra were characterized by an isodichroic point at 209.5 nm indicating a two-state equilibrium between TGF-beta 3 dissolved in solution and aggregated TGF-beta 3. Aggregated TGF-beta S showed a higher beta-sheet content and lower beta-turn and random coil contributions compared with monomeric TGF-beta 3, Both the solution structure and the aggregate structure of TGF-beta 3 were different from the crystal structure. This was in contrast to TGF-beta 2, which showed very similar crystal and solution structures. Under alkaline conditions (pH > 9.8) the turbidity disappeared and a further conformational change was induced, The pH dependence of the TGF-beta S conformation in solution in the range of 2.3 < pH < 11.0 was reversible. Aggregation of TGF-beta S was, furthermore, influenced by the presence of salt. For pH > 3.8 the addition of salt greatly enhanced the tendency to aggregate, even in the very basic domain. Under physiological conditions (pH 7,4, c(NaCl) = 164 mM) TGF-beta 3 has almost the highest tendency to aggregate and will remain in solution only at nanomolar concentrations.