Selected publications: Clicking on PDF icon will download a PDF file of the manuscript.
Reviews:
Wagenseil, J.E., and Mecham, R.P. (2009) Vascular Extracellular Matrix and Arterial Mechanics. Physiol. Rev. 89(3): 957-989.
Mecham, R.P. (2008) Methods in elastic tissue biology: Elastin isolation and purification. Methods 45(1):32-41.
McLean, S.E., Mecham, B.H., Kelleher, C.M., Mariani, T.J., and Mecham, R.P. (2005) Extracellular Matrix Gene Expression in Developing Mouse Aorta. In: Extracellular Matrices and Development. J. H. Miner, editor. Advances in Developmental Biology 15:82-128, Wassarman, P.M., Series Editor. Elsevier.
Kelleher, C.M., McLean, S.E., and Mecham, R.P. (2004) Vascular Extracellular Matrix and Aortic Development. Cur. Topic Develop. Biol. 62:153-188
Robert Mecham (1998) Overview of Extracellular Matrix. Current Protocols in Cell Biology . pp. 10.1.1-10.1.14
Stenmark, K. R. and Mecham, R.P. (1997) Cellular and molecular mechanisms of pulmonary vascular remodeling. Annu. Rev. Physiol. 59:89-144.
Mecham, R.P. and Hinek, A. (1996) Non-integrin laminin receptors. In: The Laminins P. Ekblom and R. Timpl, editors. NY: Harwood Academic Publishers. pp 159-183
Mecham, R.P.. (1987) The Biology of Connective Tissue: Regulation of Mesenchymal Cell Differentiation by Extracellular Matrix. Bone & Mineral Research 5:185-208 (note: 6 MB file size)
Peer Reviewed:
Wagenseil, J.E., Ciliberto, C.H., Knutsen, R.H., Levy, M.A. Kovacs, A., Mecham, R.P. (2009) Reduced vessel elasticity alters cardiovascular structure and function in newborn mice. Circ. Res. 104(10): 1217-1224.
Shifren, A., Durmowicz, A.G., Knutsen, R.H., Faury, G., Mecham, R.P. (2008) Elastin insufficiency predisposes to elevated pulmonary circulatory pressures hrough changes in elastic artery structure. J. Appl. Physiol. 105: 1610-1619.
Weinbaum, J.S., Broekelmann, T.J., Pierce, R.A., Werneck, C.C., Segade, F., Craft, C.S., Knutsen, R.H., and Mecham, R.P. (2008) Deficiency in microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 (MAGP-1) leads to complex phenotypes in multiple organ systems. J. Biol. Chem. 283(37):25533-25543.
Broekelmann, T.J., Ciliberto, C.H., Shifren, A., and Mecham, R.P. (2008) Modification and functional inactivation of the tropoelastin carboxy-terminal domain in cross-linked elastin. Matrix Biol. 27(7):631-639
Werneck, C.C., Vicente, C.P., Weinberg, J., Shifren, A., Pierce, R.A., Broekelmann, T.J., Tollefsen, D.M., and Mecham, R.P. (2008) Mice lacking MAGP-1 display delayed thrombotic occlusion following vessel injury. Blood 111:4137-4144.
Wagenseil, J.E., and Mecham, R.P. (2007) New insights into elastic fiber assembly. Birth Defects. Res. C Embryo Today. 81:229-240.
Segade, F., Suganuma, N., Mychaleckyj, J.C., and Mecham, R.P. (2007) The intracellular form of human MAGP1 elicits a complex and specific transcriptional response. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 39:2303-2313.
Hirano, E, Knutsen, R.H., Sugitani, H., Ciliberto, C.H., and Mecham, R.P. (2007) Functional rescue of elastin insufficiency in mice by the human elastin gene: Implications for mouse models of human disease. Circ. Res. 101(5):523-531. File also contains Circ. Research commentary: Bouncing back from elastin deficiency. Circ Res. 101(5):439-440.
Wagenseil, J.E., Knutsen, R.H., Li, D. and Mecham, R.P. (2007) Elastin insufficient mice show normal cardiovascular remodeling in 2K1C hypertension, despite higher baseline pressure and unique cardiovascular architecture. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 293(1):H574-582.
Shifren, A., Durmowicz, A.G., Knutsen, R.H., Hirano, E., Mecham, R.P. (2007) Elastin protein levels are a vital modifier affecting normal lung development and susceptibility to emphysema. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 292:L778-789.
Shifren, A., and Mecham, R.P. (2006) The stumbling block in lung repair of emphysema: Elastic fiber assembly. Proc. Am. Thorac Soc. 3:428-433.
Kozel, B.A., Rongish, B.J., Czirok, A., Zach, J., Little, C.D., Davis, E.C., Knutsen, R.H., Wagenseil, J.E., Levy, M.A. and Mecham, R.P. (2006) Elastic fiber formation: A dyamic view of extracellular matirx assembly using timer reporters. J. Cell. Physiol.207:87-96.
Czirok, A., Zach, J., Kozel, B.A., Mecham, R.P., Davis, E.C., Rongish, B.J., (2006) Elastic fiber macro-assembly is a hierarchical, cell motion-mediated process. J. Cell. Physiol. 207:97-106.
Segade, F. and Mecham, R.P. (2005) Regulatory elements of microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 gene expression in muscle cells. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1731:215-224.
Broekelmann, T.J., Kozel, B.A., Ishibashi, H., Werneck, C.C., Keeley, F.W., Zhang, L., and Mecham, R.P. (2005) Tropoelastin interacts with cell-surface glycosaminoglycans via its C-terminal domain. J. Biol. Chem. 280:40939-40947.
Kelleher, C.M., Silverman, E.K., Broekelmann, T., Litonjua, A.A., Hernandez, M., Sylvia, J.S., Stoler, J., Reilly, J.J., Chapman, H.A., Speizer, F.E., Weiss, S.T., Mecham, R.P., and Raby, B.A. (2005) A functional mutation in the terminal exon of elastin in severe, early-onset chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 33:355-362.
Wagenseil, J.E., Nerurkar, N.L., Knutsen, R.H., Okamoto, R.J., Li, D.Y., and Mecham, R.P. (2005) Effects of elastin haploinsufficiency on the mechanical behavior of mouse arteries . Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 289:H1209-H1217.
Werneck, C.C. and Trask, B.C. (Co-fiirst authors), Broekelmann, T.J., Trask, T.M., Ritty, T.M., Segade, F., and Mecham, R.P. (2004) Identification of a major MAGP-1 binding domain in fibrillin-2. J. Biol. Chem. 279:23045-23051
Kozel, B.A., Ciliberto, C.H., and Mecham, R.P. (2004) Deposition of tropoelastin into the extracellular matrix requires a competent elastic fiber scaffold but not live cells. Matrix Biol. 23:23-34.
Faury, G., Pezet, M., Knutsen, R.H., Boyle, W.A., Heximer, S.P., McLean, S.E., Minkes, R.K., Blumer, K.J., Kovacs, A., Kelly, D.P., Li, D.Y., Starcher, B., Mecham, R.P. (2003) Developmental adaptation of the mouse cardiovascular system to elastin haploinsufficiency. J. Clin. Invest. 112:1419-1428. See Commentary in J. Clin. Invest. 112: 1308-1310.
Ritty, T.M., Broekelmann, T.J., Werneck, C.C., Mecham, R.P. (2003) Fibrillins 1 and 2 contain heparin binding sites important for matrix deposition and that support cell attachment. Biochem. J. 375:425-432.
Kozel, B. A., Wachi, H., Davis, E.C., Mecham, R.P. (2003) Domains on tropoelastin that mediate elastin deposition in vitro and in in vivo. J. Biol Chem. 278:18491-18498.
Hornstra, I.K., Birge, S., Starcher, B., Bailey, A.J., Mecham, R.P., and Shapiro, S.D. (2003) Lysyl oxidase is required for vascular and diaphragmatic development in mice. J. Biol. Chem. 14387-14393.
Heximer, S.P., Knutsen, R.H., Kaltenbronn, K.M., Rhee, M-H., Peng, N., Oliveira-dos-Santos, A., Penninger, J.M., Muslin, A.J., Wyss, J.M., Mecham, R.P., and Blumer, K.J. (2003) Hypertension and prolonged vasoconstrictor signaling in RGS2-deficient mice. J. Clin. Invest. 111:445-452.
Davis, E.C., Roth, R.A., Heuser, J.E., and Mecham, R.P. (2002) Ultrastructural properties of ciliary zonule microfibrils (2002). J. Struct. Biol. 139:65-75.
Hill, C.H., Mecham, R.P., Starcher, B. (2002) Homocysteinemia chick model: Fibrillin-2 defects impair elastic fiber assembly. J. Nutrition 132(8):2143-50.
Segade, F., Crippes, B.T., Broekelmann, T.J., Pierce, R.A., and Mecham, R.P. (2002) Identification of a matrix binding domain in the microfibril-associated glycoproteins 1 and 2 (MAGP1 and 2) and cellular localization of alternative splice forms. J. Biol. Chem. 277:11050-11057
Trask, B.C, Broekelmann, T., Ritty, T.M., Trask, T.M., Tisdale, C. and Mecham, R.P. (2001) Post-translational modifications of microfibril associated glycoprotein-1 (MAGP-1). Biochemistry. 40:4372-4380.
Segade, F., Broekelmann, T.J., Pierce, R.A., and Mecham, R.P. (2000) Revised genomic structure of the human MAGP1 gene and identification of alternate transcripts in human and mouse tissues. Matrix Biology 19:671-682.
Dietz, H.C. and Mecham, R.P. (2000) Mouse models of genetic diseases resulting from mutations in elastic fiber proteins. Matrix Biol. 19:481-488.
Trask, B.C, Trask, T.M., Broekelmann, T. and Mecham, R.P. (2000) The microfibrillar proteins MAGP-1 and fibrillin-1 from a ternary complex with the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan decorin. Molec. Biol. Cell. 11:1499-1507.
Shipley, J.M., Mecham, R.P., Maus, E., Bonadio, J., Rosenbloom, J., McCarthy, R.T., Baumann, M.L., Frankfater, C., Segade, F., and Shapiro, S. (2000) Developmental expression of latent TGF-b-binding protein-2 and its requirement early in mouse development. Molec. Cell. Biol. 20:4879-4887.
Trask, T.M., Crippes Trask, B., Ritty, T.M., Abrams, W.R., Rosenbloom, J., and Mecham, R.P. (2000) Interaction of tropoelastin with the amino-terminal domains of fibrillin-1 and fibrillin-2 suggests a role for the fibrillins in elastic fiber assembly. J. Biol. Chem. 275:24400-24406.
Park, P.W., Broekelmann, T.J., Mecham, B.R., and Mecham, R.P. (1999) Characterization of the elastin binding domain in the cell surface 25 kDa elastin binding protein of Staphylococcus aureus (EbpS). J. Biol. Chem. 274:2845-2850
Ritty, T.M., Broekelmann, T., Tisdale, C. Milewicz, D.M., Mecham, R.P. (1999) Processing of the fibrillin-1 carboxy-terminal domain. J. Biol. Chem. 274:8933-8940.
Davis, E.C., Blattel, S.A., and Mecham, R.P. (1999) Remodeling of elastic fiber components in scleroderma skin. Connect. Tissue Res. 40:113-121.
Trask, T.M., Ritty, T. M., Broekelmann, T., Tisdale, C., and Mecham, R.P. (1999) Amino-terminal domains of fibrillin-1 and fibrillin-2 direct the formation of homodimers: A possible first step in microfibril assembly. Biochem. J. 340:693-701.
Zhang, M., Pierce, R.A., Wachi, H., Mecham, R.P., and Parks, W.C. (1999) An open-reading frame element mediates post-transcriptional regulation of tropoelastin during development and responsiveness to TGF-b1. Mol. Cell. Biol.19(11): p. 7314-7326
Robb, B.W., Wachi, H., Schaub, T., Mecham, R.P., and Davis, E.C. (1999) Characterization of an in vitro model of elastic fiber assembly. Molec. Biol. Cell 10: 3595-3605.
Faury, G., Maher, G.M., Li, D.Y., Keating, M.T., Mecham, R.P., and Boyle, W.A. (1999) Relation between outer and luminal diameter in cannulated arteries. Am. J. Physiol. 277:H1745-H1753.
Davis, E.C., Broekelmann, T.J., Ozawa, Y., and Mecham, R.P. (1998) Identification of tropoelastin as a ligand for the 65-kD FK506-binding protein, FKBP65, in the secretory pathway. J. Cell Bio. 140:295-303.
Faury, G., Garnier, S., Weiss, A.S., Wallach, J., Fulop Jr., T., Jacob, M-P., Mecham, R.P., Robert, L., and Verdetti, J. (1998) Action of tropoelastin and synthetic elastin sequences on vascular tone and on free calcium levels in human vascular endothelial cells. Circulation Res. 82:328-336.
Li, D.Y., Brooke, B., Davis, E.C., Mecham, R.P., Sorensen, L.K., Boak, B.B., Eichwald, E., , and Keating, M.T. (1998) Elastin is an essential determinant of arterial morphogenesis. Nature 393:276-280.
Li, D.Y., Faury, G., Taylor, D.G., Davis, E.C., Boyle, W.A., Mecham, R.P., Stenzel, P., Boak, B., and Keating, M.T. (1998) Novel arterial pathology in mice and humans hemizygous for elastin. J. Clin. Invest. 102:1783-1787.
Davis, E.C. and Mecham, R.P. (1998) Intracellular trafficking of tropoelastin. Matrix Biol 17: 245-254.
Mecham, R.P., Broekelmann, T., Fliszar, C.J., Shapiro, S.D., Welgus, H.G., and Senior, R.M. (1997) Elastin degradation by matrix metalloproteinases: Cleavage site specificity and mechanisms of elastolysis. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 18071-18076.
Davis, E.C. and Mecham, R.P. (1996) Selective degradation of accumulated secretory proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum: A possible clearance pathway for abnormal tropoelastin. J. Biol. Chem. 271:3787-3794.
Sakamoto, H., Broekelmann, T., Cheresh, D.A., Ramirez, F., Rosenbloom, J., and Mecham, R.P. (1996) Cell-type specific recognition of RGD- and nonRGD-containing cell binding domains in fibrillin-1. J. Biol. Chem. 271:4916-4922.
Park, P.W., Rosenbloom, J., Abrams, W.R., Rosenbloom, J., and Mecham, R.P. (1996) Molecular cloning and expression of the gene for elastin binding protein (ebpS) in Staphylococcus aureus. J. Biol. Chem. 271: 15803-15809.
Brown-Augsburger, P.B., Broekelmann, T., Rosenbloom, J. and Mecham, R.P. (1996) Functional domains on elastin and MAGP involved in elastic fiber assembly. Biochem. J. 318:149-155.
Brown-Augsburger, P., Broekelmann, T., Sloan, C., and Mecham, R.P. (1995) Identification of an elastin cross-linking domain that joins three peptide chains: Possible role in nucleated assembly. J. Biol. Chem. 270:17778-17783.
Gibson, M.A., Hatzinikolas, G., Davis, E.C., Baker, E., Sutherland, G.R., and Mecham, R.P. (1995) Bovine latent transforming growth factor b1-binding protein 2: Molecular cloning, identification of tissue isoforms, and immunolocalization to elastin-associated microfibrils. Molec. Cell. Biol. 15:6932-6942.
Gray, A.J., Park, P.W., Broekelmann, T.J., Laurent, G.J., Reeves, J.T., Stenmark, K.R., and Mecham, R.P. (1995) The mitogenic effects of the Bb chain of fibrinogen are mediated through cell surface calreticulin. J. Biol. Chem. 270:26602-26606.
Grosso, L.E., Parks, W.C., Wu, L., and Mecham, R.P. (1991) Fibroblast adhesion to recombinant tropoelastin expressed as a Protein A-fusion protein. Biochem. J. 272:517-522.
Grosso, L.E., Park, P.W., and Mecham, R.P. (1991) Characterization of a putative clone for the 67-kilodalton elasitn/laminin receptor suggests that it encodes a cytoplasmic protein rather than a cell surface receptor. Biochemistry 30:3346-3350.
Park, P.W., Roberts, D.D., Grosso, L.E., Parks, W.C., Rosenbloom, J., Abrams, W.R., and Mecham, R.P. (1991) Binding of elastin to Staphylococcus aureus. J. Biol. Chem. 266:23399-23406.
Mecham, R.P., Whitehouse, L., Hay, M., Hinek, A., and Sheetz, M.P. (1991) Ligand affinity of the 67 kDa elastin/laminin binding protein is modulated by the protein's lectin domain: Visualization of elastin/laminin receptor complexes with gold-tagged ligands. J. Cell Biol. 113:187-194.
Parks, W.C., Secrist, H., Wu, L.C., and Mecham, R.P. (1988) Developmental regulation of tropoelastin isoforms. J. Biol. Chem. 263:4416-4423.
Wrenn, D.S., Hinek, A., and Mecham, R.P. (1988) Kinetics of receptor-mediated binding of tropoelastin to ligament fibroblasts. J. Biol. Chem. 263:2280-2284.
Wrenn, D.S., Parks, W.C., Whitehouse, L.A., Crouch, E.C., Kucich, U., Rosenbloom, J., and Mecham, R.P. (1987) Identification of multiple tropoelastins secreted by bovine cells. J. Biol. Chem. 262:2244-2249.
Mecham, R.P., Whitehouse, L.A., Wrenn, D.S., Parks, W.C., Griffin, G.L., Senior, R.M., Crouch, E.C., Stenmark, K.R., and Voelkel, N.F. (1987) Smooth muscle-mediated connective tissue remodeling in pulmonary hypertension. Science 237:423-426.
Mecham, R.P., Levy, B.D., Morris, S.L., and Wrenn, D.S. (1985) Increased cyclic GMP levels lead to a stimulation of elastin production in ligament fibroblasts that is reversed by cyclic AMP. J. Biol. Chem. 260:3255-3258.
Mecham, R.P., Morris, S.L., Levy, B.D., and Wrenn, D.S. (1984) Glucocorticoids stimulate elastin production in differentiated bovine ligament fibroblasts but do not induce elastin synthesis in undifferentiated cells. J. Biol. Chem. 259:12414-12418.
Senior, R.M., Griffin, G.L., Mecham, R.P., Wrenn, D.S., Prasad, K.U., and Urry, D.W. (1984) Val-Gly-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly, a repeating peptide in elastin, is chemotactic for fibroblasts and monocytes. J. Cell Biol. 99:870-874.
Mecham, R.P., Madaras, J.G., and Senior, R.M. (1984) Extracellular matrix-specific induction of elastogenic differentiation and maintenance of phenotypic stability in bovine ligament fibroblasts. J. Cell Biol. 98:1804-1812.
Mecham, R.P., Griffin, G.L., Madars, J.G., and Senior, R.M. (1984) Appearance of chemotactic responsiveness to elastin peptides by developing fetal bovine ligamentum nuchae fibroblasts parallels the onset of elastin production. J. Cell Biol. 98:1813-1816.
Senior, R.M., Griffin, G.L., Mecham, R.P. (1982) Chemotactic responses of fibroblasts to tropoelastin and elastin-derived peptides J. Clin. Invest. 70:614-618.
Mecham, R.P., Lange, G., Madaras, J., and Starcher, B. (1981) Elastin synthesis by ligamentum nuchae fibroblasts: Effects of culture conditions and extracellular matrix on elasitn produciton. J. Cell Biol. 90:331-338.
Senior, R.M., Griffin, G.L., Mecham, R.P. (1980) Chemotactic activity of elastin-derived peptides. J. Clin. Invest. 66:859-862.
Mecham, R.P. and Foster, J.A. (1978) A structural model for desmosine cross-linked peptides. Biochem. J. 173:617-625.
Foster, J.A., Mecham, R.P., Rich, C.B., Cronin, M.F., Levine, A., Imberman, M., and Salcedo, L.L. (1978) Proelastin: Synthesis in cultured smooth muscle cells. J. Biol. Chem.. 253:2797-2803.
Foster, J.A., Bruenger, E., Rubin, L., Imberman, M., Kagan, H., Mecham, R. and Franzblau, C. (1976) Circular dichroism studies of an elastin crosslinked peptide. Biopolymers. 15:833-841.