Cu(ii) ion coordination to SPARC: a model study on short peptide fragments

Abstract

SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) is a glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix that mediates the cell-matrix interactions. It plays also a role in angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, caractogenesis and wound healing. The human SPARC consists of three distinct modules. Module II is follistatin-like and its hydrolysis gives rise to a number of oligopeptides that can regulate angiogenesis in vivo and the biological activity of which has been related to their association with endogenous or exogenous copper ion.