# ROLE OF MATRIX VESICLES IN CALCIFICATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · 1991 · $239,235

## Abstract

Calcification is a biological process absolutely essential to the survival
of all vertebrate organisms, including man.  However, the unwanted
deposition of mineral in vascular walls and valves contributes
significantly to pathogenesis in arteriosclerosis.  Despite its critical
importance, the mechanism of calcification is not well understood.  The
long-term objective of the proposed research is to elucidate the mechanism
of endochondral calcification.  This calcifying system is not only critical
to bone development, but also appears to be closely analogous to ectopic
mineral deposition.  The proposed research will explore the role of matrix
vesicles (MV) structures now widely accepted as initiators of both normal
calcification in cartilage and early bone formation, in the mechanism of
mineral deposition.  Attention will be focused on 1) the metabolism of Ca
and Pi, and the characterization of very early mineral forms in MV during
the induction of mineral formation, 2) characterization of key MV proteins
involved in this process, 3) exploration of the relationship between MV and
collagen in mineral deposition, and 4) utilization of specific inhibitors
to elucidate the sequence of events in MV mineral deposition.  Special
attention will be directed towards: a) characterization of constitutive MV
proteins [the newly-discovered lipid-dependent Ca2+-binding proteins, the
water-soluble peripheral proteins, and the collagen-binding proteins] and
their relationship to the induction of mineral formation by MV, b)
characterization of mineral precursors formed during early stages of MV
mineralization, and c) elucidating the effect of the electrolyte
environment on MV mineralization.  Epiphyseal growth plate cartilage from
rapidly growing chickens will be used to provide an abundant source of
actively calcifying material for isolation of cells and MV.  Experimental
methods will include: Tissue fractionation, cell culture, assays of MV
45Ca- and 32Pi-metabolism, protein purification (extraction,
chromatography, electrophoresis) and characterization using amino acid
analysis, peptide mapping and sequencing, immunology (polyclonal and
monoclonal antibodies, Western blots) and molecular biology (mRNA
isolation, Northern blots, cDNA library, cDNA cloning and sequencing).
Spectroscopy (FTIR, NMR, UV), electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction
will be used to characterize MV mineral phases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155013
- **Project number:** 5R01AR018983-15
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** J22LNTMEDP73
- **Principal Investigator:** ROY E WUTHIER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $239,235
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-01-01 → 1994-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155013

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155013, ROLE OF MATRIX VESICLES IN CALCIFICATION (5R01AR018983-15). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155013. Licensed CC0.

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