Effects of procollagen peptides on the translation of type II collagen messenger ribonucleic acid and on collagen biosynthesis in chondrocytes

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Abstract
Type II procollagen mRNA was isolated from chick sternum and rat chondrosarcoma cells and translated in a reticulocyte lysate cell-free system. A high MW band was identified as type II procollagen by gel electrophoresis, collagenase digestion and specific immunoprecipitation. The translation of type II mRNA was specifically inhibited by addition of type I procollagen amino-terminal extension peptide. When this peptide was added to the media of cultured fetal calf chondrocytes, chick sternal chondrocytes or chick tendon fibroblasts, no inhibition of collagen synthesis was evident. These data suggest a general regulation of collagen biosynthesis by these peptides in the cell-free translation system. As indicated by the cell culture experiments, cellular characteristics and evolutionary divergence of animal species seem to restrict the effect of the peptides.