Prokaryotic collagen-like proteins and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides recombinant triple helical proteins or collagen-like proteins comprising a prokaryotic protein or one or more domains of a prokaryotic protein comprising a collagen-like peptide sequence of repeated Gly-Xaa-Yaa triplets and, optionally, one or more domains from a mammalian collagen. Also provided are expression vectors and host cells containing the expression vectors to produce these recombinant proteins and methods of producing the same. Additionally, antibodies are provided that are directed against a recombinant collagen-like protein that, preferably, binds an integrin. Furthermore, a method of screening for potential therapeutic compounds that inhibit the integrin-binding or integrin-interacting activities of recombinant collagen-like proteins.