A novel integrin specificity exemplified by binding of the alpha v beta 5 integrin to the basic domain of the HIV Tat protein and vitronectin

Several studies have addressed the interaction of the HIV Tat protein with the cell surface. Our analysis of the cell attachment-promoting activity of Tat and peptides derived from it revealed that the basic domain of Tat, not the arg-gly-asp (RGD) sequence, is required for cell attachment to Tat. Affinity chromatography with Tat peptides and immunoprecipitation with various anti-integrin antibodies suggest that the vitronectin-binding integrin, alpha v beta 5, is the cell surface protein that binds to the basic domain of Tat. The Tat basic domain contains the sequence RKKRRQRRR. A related sequence, KKQRFRHRNRKG, present in the heparin-binding domain of an alpha v beta 5 ligand, vitronectin, also bound alpha v beta 5 in affinity chromatography and, in combination with an RGD peptide, was an inhibitor of cell attachment to vitronectin. The alpha v beta 5 interaction with these peptides was not solely due to high content of basic amino acids in the ligand sequences; alpha v beta 5 did not bind substantially to peptides consisting entirely of arginine or lysine, whereas a beta 1 integrin did bind to these peptides. The interaction of alpha v beta 5 with Tat is atypical for integrins in that the binding to Tat is divalent cation independent, whereas the binding of the same integrin to an RGD- containing peptide or to vitronectin requires divalent cations. These data define an auxiliary integrin binding specificity for basic amino acid sequences. These basic domain binding sites may function synergistically with the binding sites that recognize RGD or equivalent sequences.     

Expression of the human beta3 integrin subunit in mouse smooth muscle cells enhances IGF-I-stimulated signaling and proliferation

Optimal stimulation of signal transduction and biological functions by IGF-I in porcine smooth muscle cells (pSMC) requires ligand occupancy of the alphaVbeta3 integrin. Binding of heparin-binding domain (HBD) of vitronectin (VN) to the cysteine loop (C-loop) region of beta3 is required for pSMC to respond optimally to IGF-I stimulation. Mouse smooth muscle cells (mSMC), which express a form of beta3 whose sequence within the C-loop region is different than porcine or human beta3, do not respond optimally to IGF-I, and IGF-I stimulated beta3 and SHPS-1 phosphorylation which are necessary for optimal IGF-I signaling were undetectable. VN also had no effect on IGF-I stimulated the cell proliferation. In contrast, when human beta3 (hbeta3) was introduced into mSMC, there was an enhanced VN binding in spite of an equivalent amount of total beta3 expression, and IGF-I-dependent beta3, and SHPS-1 phosphorylation were detected. In addition, there was enhanced IGF-I-stimulated Shc association with SHPS-1, Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, Shc and Grb2 association, and MAP kinase activation leading to increased cell proliferation. These enhancements could be further augmented by adding a peptide containing the HBD of VN. To determine if these changes were mediated by the C-loop region of beta3, an antibody that reacts with that region of beta3 was utilized. The addition of the hbeta3 C-loop antibody abolished VN-induced enhancement of IGF-I signaling and IGF-I-stimulated cell proliferation. These results strongly support the conclusion that optimal SMC responsiveness to IGF-I requires ligand interaction with the C-loop domain of hbeta3.     

Arginine-glycine-aspartic acid binding leading to molecular stabilization between integrin alpha v beta 3 and its ligand.

Cell adhesion is characterized by an integrin-mediated ligand binding event followed by reorganization of the actin-cytoskeleton leading to cell spreading and/or migration. In this report we examine the role of integrin alpha v beta 3 in mediating cell attachment to vitronectin or a RGD-containing peptide in the presence of cytochalasin B to prevent actin polymerization. Under these conditions cell attachment to a RGD-containing peptide can be dissociated by excess soluble ligand whereas cells attached to vitronectin cannot. These results suggest that alpha v beta 3-mediated cell attachment to vitronectin results in a highly stabilized interaction that is independent of the actin-cytoskeleton. To investigate the molecular nature of this interaction alpha v beta 3 was purified to homogeneity, and its binding properties toward various ligands were measured in a solid-phase receptor assay. The data indicate that alpha v beta 3 binds to vitronectin or fibronectin in a nondissociable manner whereas a RGD-containing peptide derived from vitronectin binds specifically but is completely dissociable with a Kd of 9.4 x 10(-7) M. Moreover, chemical modification of alpha v beta 3 with limited glutaraldehyde treatment allowed vitronectin to bind in a RGD-dependent and dissociable manner, suggesting that receptor conformational changes or specific amino acid residues proximal to the ligand binding site(s) are involved in the stabilization event. Thus, in the absence of cytoskeletal proteins or other cellular components, integrin alpha v beta 3-ligand binding involves recognition of the RGD sequence leading to a highly stabilized protein-protein association.     

Tests of the extension and deadbolt models of integrin activation

Despite extensive evidence that integrin conformational changes between bent and extended conformations regulate affinity for ligands, an alternative hypothesis has been proposed in which a "deadbolt" can regulate affinity for ligand in the absence of extension. Here, we tested both the deadbolt and the extension models. According to the deadbolt model, a hairpin loop in the beta3 tail domain could act as a deadbolt to restrain the displacement of the beta3 I domain beta6-alpha7 loop and maintain integrin in the low affinity state. We found that mutating or deleting the beta3 tail domain loop has no effect on ligand binding by either alphaIIbbeta 3 or alphaVbeta3 integrins. In contrast, we found that mutations that lock integrins in the bent conformation with disulfide bonds resist inside-out activation induced by cytoplasmic domain mutation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that extension is required for accessibility to fibronectin but not smaller fragments. The data demonstrate that integrin extension is required for ligand binding during integrin inside-out signaling and that the deadbolt does not regulate integrin activation.     

The eighth FIII domain of human fibronectin promotes integrin alpha5beta1 binding via stabilization of the ninth FIII domain

Binding of the extracellular matrix molecule fibronectin to the integrin receptor alpha(5)beta(1) elicits downstream signaling pathways that modulate cell function. Fibronectin-alpha(5)beta(1) interaction occurs via the conserved RGD sequence in the tenth FIII (FIII10) domain of fibronectin. A synergistic site containing the sequence PHSRN in the adjacent FIII9 domain has also been identified. Here we investigate the function of the eighth FIII domain in integrin-mediated cell adhesion using a wide range of methods, including biochemical, biological, and biophysical assays of integrin binding, cell adhesion, and protein denaturation. Mutation of the FIII9 synergistic site (PHSRN to PHAAA) in FIII9-10 reduced the binding activity for integrin alpha(5)beta(1) to levels observed for FIII10 alone, but the corresponding mutant in FIII8-9-10 showed no loss of binding activity. Cell adhesion assays also demonstrated enhanced functional activity of constructs containing FIII8. Equilibrium chemical denaturation studies indicated that FIII8 confers conformational stability upon FIII9, but only if the exposed loops, PHSRN and VKNEED on FIII9 and FIII8, respectively, are intact. These results demonstrate that the loss of integrin binding activity, observed upon alteration of the PHSRN synergistic site of FIII9-10, results partly from a loss of conformational stability of FIII9. Our data suggest a mechanism for integrin alpha(5)beta(1)-fibronectin interaction, which in addition to the primary RGD binding event, involves a conformation-sensitive scanning by the integrin for accessible sites on the ligand, whereupon full activation of downstream signaling occurs.     

L-plastin peptide activation of alpha(v)beta(3)-mediated adhesion requires integrin conformational change and actin filament disassembly

L-plastin (LPL) is a leukocyte actin binding protein previously implicated in the activation of the integrin alpha(M)beta(2) on polymorphonuclear neutrophils. To determine the role for LPL in integrin activation, K562 cell adhesion to vitronectin via alpha(v)beta(3), a well-studied model for activable integrins, was examined. Cell permeant versions of peptides based on the N-terminal sequence of LPL and the LPL headpiece domain both activated alpha(v)beta(3)-mediated adhesion. In contrast to adhesion induced by treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), LPL peptide-activated adhesion was independent of integrin beta(3) cytoplasmic domain tyrosines and was not inhibited by cytochalasin D. Also in contrast to PMA, LPL peptides synergized with RGD ligand or Mn(2+) for generation of a conformational change in alpha(v)beta(3) associated with the high affinity state of the integrin, as determined by binding of a ligand-induced binding site antibody. Although LPL and ligand showed synergy for ligand-induced binding site expression when actin depolymerization was inhibited by jasplakinolide, LPL peptide-induced adhesion was inhibited. Thus, both actin depolymerization and ligand-induced integrin conformational change are required for LPL peptide-induced adhesion. We hypothesize that the critical steps of increased integrin diffusion and affinity enhancement may be linked via modulation of the function of the actin binding protein L-plastin.     

alphaVbeta6 is a novel receptor for human fibrillin-1. Comparative studies of molecular determinants underlying integrin-rgd affinity and specificity

Human fibrillin-1, the major structural protein of connective tissue 10-12 nm microfibrils, contains multiple calcium binding epidermal growth factor-like domains interspersed with transforming growth factor beta-binding protein-like (TB) domains. TB4 contains a flexible RGD loop that mediates cell adhesion via alphaVbeta3 and alpha5beta1 integrins. This study identifies integrin alphaVbeta6 as a novel cellular receptor for fibrillin-1 with a K(d) of approximately 0.45 mum. Analyses of this interaction by surface plasmon resonance and immunocytochemistry reveal different module requirements for alphaVbeta6 activation compared with those of alphaVbeta3, suggesting that a covalent linkage of an N-terminal calcium binding epidermal growth factor-like domain to TB4 can modulate alphaV integrin binding specificity. Furthermore, our data suggest alpha5beta1 is a low affinity fibrillin-1 receptor (K(d) > 1 mum), thus providing a molecular explanation for the different alpha5beta1 distribution patterns seen when human keratinocytes and fibroblasts are plated on recombinant fibrillin fragments versus those derived from the physiological ligand fibronectin. Non-focal contact distribution of alpha5beta1 suggests that its engagement by fibrillin-1 may elicit a lesser degree and/or different type of intracellular signaling compared with that seen with a high affinity ligand.     

Isolation of a highly specific ligand for the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin from a phage display library

Our previous studies showed that the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin selects cysteine pair-containing RGD peptides from a phage display library based on a random hexapeptide. We have therefore searched for more selective peptides for this integrin using a larger phage display library, where heptapeptides are flanked by cysteine residues, thus making the inserts potentially cyclic. Most of the phage sequences that bound to alpha 5 beta 1 (69 of 125) contained the RGD motif. Some of the heptapeptides contained an NGR motif. As the NGR sequence occurs in the cell-binding region of the fibronectin molecule, this sequence could contribute to the specific recognition of fibronectin by alpha 5 beta 1. Selection for high affinity peptides for alpha 5 beta 1 surprisingly yielded a sequence RRETAWA that does not bear obvious resemblance to known integrin ligand sequences. The synthetic cyclic peptide GACRRETAWACGA (*CRRETAWAC*) was a potent inhibitor of alpha 5 beta 1-mediated cell attachment to fibronectin. This peptide is nearly specific for the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin, because much higher concentrations were needed to inhibit the alpha v beta 1 integrin, and there was no effect on alpha v beta 3- and alpha v beta 5-mediated cell attachment to vitronectin. The peptide also did not bind to the alpha IIb beta 3 integrin. *CRRETAWAC* appears to interact with the same or an overlapping binding site in alpha 5 beta 1 as RGD, because cell attachment to *CRRETAWAC* coated on plastic was divalent cation dependent and could be blocked by an RGD-containing peptide. These results reveal a novel binding specificity in the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin.     

Membrane-proximal {alpha}/{beta} stalk interactions differentially regulate integrin activation

The affinity of integrin-ligand interaction is regulated extracellularly by divalent cations and intracellularly by inside-out signaling. We report here that the extracellular, membrane-proximal alpha/beta stalk interactions not only regulate cation-induced integrin activation but also play critical roles in propagating inside-out signaling. Two closely related integrins, alphaIIbbeta3 and alphaVbeta3, share high structural homology and bind to similar ligands in an RGD-dependent manner. Despite these structural and functional similarities, they exhibit distinct responses to Mn(2+). Although alphaVbeta3 showed robust ligand binding in the presence of Mn(2+), alphaIIbbeta3 showed a limited increase but failed to achieve full activation. Swapping alpha stalk regions between alphaIIb and alphaV revealed that the alpha stalk, but not the ligand-binding head region, was responsible for the difference. A series of alphaIIb/alphaV domain-swapping chimeras were constructed to identify the responsible domain. Surprisingly, the minimum component required to render alphaIIbbeta3 susceptible to Mn(2+) activation was the alphaV calf-2 domain, which does not contain any divalent cation-binding sites. The calf-2 domain makes interface with beta epidermal growth factor 4 and beta tail domain in three-dimensional structure. The effect of calf-2 domain swapping was partially reproduced by mutating the specific amino acid residues in the calf-2/epidermal growth factor 4-beta tail domain interface. When this interface was constrained by an artificially introduced disulfide bridge, the Mn(2+)-induced alphaVbeta3-fibrinogen interaction was significantly impaired. Notably, a similar disulfide bridge completely abrogated fibrinogen binding to alphaIIbbeta3 when alphaIIbbeta3 was activated by cytoplasmic tail truncation to mimic inside-out signaling. Thus, disruption/formation of the membrane-proximal alpha/beta stalk interface may act as an on/off switch that triggers integrin-mediated bidirectional signaling.     

Insulin-like growth factor-I signaling in smooth muscle cells is regulated by ligand binding to the 177CYDMKTTC184 sequence of the beta3-subunit of alphaVbeta3

The response of smooth muscle cells to IGF-I requires ligand occupancy of the alphaVbeta3 integrin. We have shown that vitronectin (Vn) is required for IGF-I-stimulated migration or proliferation, whereas the anti-alphaVbeta3 monoclonal antibody, LM609, which inhibits ligand binding, blocks responsiveness of these cells to IGF-I. The amino acids 177-184 ((177)CYDMKTTC(184)) within the extracellular domain of beta3 have been proposed to confer the ligand specificity of alphaVbeta3; therefore, we hypothesized that ligand binding to the 177-184 cysteine loop of beta3 may be an important regulator of the cross talk between alphaVbeta3 and IGF-I in SMCs. Here we demonstrate that blocking ligand binding to a specific amino acid sequence within the beta3 subunit of alphaVbeta3 (i.e. amino acids 177-184) blocked Vn binding to the beta3 subunit of alphaVbeta3 and correspondingly beta3 phosphorylation was decreased. In the presence of this antibody, IGF-I-stimulated Shc phosphorylation and ERK 1/2 activation were impaired, and this was associated with an inhibition in the ability of IGF-I to stimulate an increase in migration or proliferation. Furthermore, in cells expressing a mutated form of beta3 in which three critical residues within the 177-184 sequence were altered beta3 phosphorylation was decreased. This was associated with a loss of IGF-I-stimulated Shc phosphorylation and impaired smooth muscle cell proliferation in response to IGF-I. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the 177-184 sequence of beta3 is necessary for Vn binding to alphaVbeta3 and that ligand occupancy of this site is necessary for an optimal response of smooth muscle cells to IGF-I.     

The heparin binding domain of vitronectin is the region that is required to enhance insulin-like growth factor-I signaling

We have shown that vitronectin (Vn) binding to a cysteine loop sequence within the extracellular domain of the beta3-subunit (amino acids 177-184) of alphaVbeta3 is required for the positive effects of Vn on IGF-I signaling. When Vn binding to this sequence is blocked, IGF-I signaling in smooth muscle cells is impaired. Because this binding site is distinct from the site on beta3 to which the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence of extracellular matrix ligands bind (amino acids 107-171), we hypothesized that the region of Vn that binds to the cysteine loop on beta3 is distinct from the region that contains the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence. The results presented in this study demonstrate that this heparin binding domain (HBD) is the region of Vn that binds to the cysteine loop region of beta3 and that this region is sufficient to mediate the positive effects of Vn on IGF-I signaling. We provide evidence that binding of the HBD of Vn to alphaVbeta3 has direct effects on the activation state of beta3 as measured by beta3 phosphorylation. The increase in beta3 phosphorylation associated with exposure of cells to this HBD is associated with enhanced phosphorylation of the adaptor protein Src homology 2 domain-containing transforming protein C and enhanced activation MAPK, a downstream mediator of IGF-I signaling. We conclude that the interaction of the HBD of Vn binding to the cysteine loop sequence of beta3 is necessary and sufficient for the positive effects of Vn on IGF-I-mediated effects in smooth muscle cells.     

A new functional role of the fibrinogen RGD motif as the molecular switch that selectively triggers integrin alphaIIbbeta3-dependent RhoA activation during cell spreading

A number of RGD-type integrins rely on a synergistic site in addition to the canonical RGD site for ligand binding and signaling, although it is still unclear whether these two recognition sites function independently, synergistically, or competitively. Experimental evidence has suggested that fibrinogen binding to the RGD-type integrin alphaIIbbeta3 occurs exclusively through the synergistic gamma(400-411) sequence, thus questioning the functional role of the RGD recognition site. Here we have investigated the respective role of the fibrinogen gamma(400-411) sequence and the RGD motif in the molecular events leading to ligand-induced alphaIIbbeta3-dependent Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell or platelet spreading, by using intact fibrinogen and well characterized plasmin-generated fibrinogen fragments containing either the RGD motif (fragment C) or the gamma(400-411) sequence (fragment D), and CHO cells expressing resting wild type (alphaIIbbeta3wt), constitutively active (alphaIIbbeta3T562N), or non-functional (alphaIIbbeta3D119Y) receptors. Our data provide evidence that the gamma(400-411) site by itself is able to initiate alphaIIbbeta3 clustering and recruitment of intracellular proteins to early focal complexes, mediating cell attachment, FAK phosphorylation, and Rac1 activation, while the RGD motif subsequently acts as a molecular switch on the beta3 subunit to trigger cell spreading. More importantly, we show that the premier functional role of the RGD site is not to reinforce cell attachment but, rather, to imprint a conformational change on the beta3 subunit leading to maximal RhoA activation and actin cytoskeleton organization in CHO cells as well as in platelets. Finally, alphaIIbbeta3-dependent RhoA stimulation and cell spreading, but not cell attachment, are Src-dependent and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-independent and are inhibited by the Src antagonist PP2.     

Structure of the integrin binding fragment from fibrillin-1 gives new insights into microfibril organization

Human fibrillin-1, the major structural protein of extracellular matrix (ECM) 10-12 nm microfibrils, is dominated by 43 calcium binding epidermal growth factor-like (cbEGF) and 7 transforming growth factor beta binding protein-like (TB) domains. Crystal structures reveal the integrin binding cbEGF22-TB4-cbEGF23 fragment of human fibrillin-1 to be a Ca(2+)-rigidified tetragonal pyramid. We suggest that other cbEGF-TB pairs within the fibrillins may adopt a similar orientation to cbEGF22-TB4. In addition, we have located a flexible RGD integrin binding loop within TB4. Modeling, cell attachment and spreading assays, immunocytochemistry, and surface plasmon resonance indicate that cbEGF22 bound to TB4 is a requirement for integrin activation and provide insight into the molecular basis of the fibrillin-1 interaction with alphaVbeta3. In light of our data, we propose a novel model for the assembly of the fibrillin microfibril and a mechanism to explain its extensibility.     

Requirement of the NPXY motif in the integrin beta 3 subunit cytoplasmic tail for melanoma cell migration in vitro and in vivo

The NPXY sequence is highly conserved among integrin beta subunit cytoplasmic tails, suggesting that it plays a fundamental role in regulating integrin-mediated function. Evidence is provided that the NPXY structural motif within the beta 3 subunit, comprising residues 744-747, is essential for cell morphological and migratory responses mediated by integrin alpha v beta 3 in vitro and in vivo. Transfection of CS-1 melanoma cells with a cDNA encoding the wild-type integrin beta 3 subunit, results in de novo alpha v beta 3 expression and cell attachment, spreading, and migration on vitronectin. CS-1 cells expressing alpha v beta 3 with mutations that disrupt the NPXY sequence interact with soluble vitronectin or an RGD peptide, yet fail to attach, spread, or migrate on immobilized ligand. The biological consequences of these observations are underscored by the finding that CS-1 cells expressing wild-type alpha v beta 3 acquire the capacity to form spontaneous pulmonary metastases in the chick embryo when grown on the chorioallantoic membrane. However, migration-deficient CS-1 cells expressing alpha v beta 3 with mutations in the NPXY sequence lose this ability to metastasize. These findings demonstrate that the NPXY motif within the integrin beta 3 cytoplasmic tail is essential for alpha v beta 3-dependent post-ligand binding events involved in cell migration and the metastatic phenotype of melanoma cells.     

Three-dimensional EM structure of the ectodomain of integrin {alpha}V{beta}3 in a complex with fibronectin

Integrins are alphabeta heterodimeric cell surface receptors that mediate transmembrane signaling by binding extracellular and cytoplasmic ligands. The ectodomain of integrin alphaVbeta3 crystallizes in a bent, genuflexed conformation considered to be inactive (unable to bind physiological ligands in solution) unless it is fully extended by activating stimuli. We generated a stable, soluble complex of the Mn(2+)-bound alphaVbeta3 ectodomain with a fragment of fibronectin (FN) containing type III domains 7 to 10 and the EDB domain (FN7-EDB-10). Transmission electron microscopy and single particle image analysis were used to determine the three-dimensional structure of this complex. Most alphaVbeta3 particles, whether unliganded or FN-bound, displayed compact, triangular shapes. A difference map comparing ligand-free and FN-bound alphaVbeta3 revealed density that could accommodate the RGD-containing FN10 in proximity to the ligand-binding site of beta3, with FN9 just adjacent to the synergy site binding region of alphaV. We conclude that the ectodomain of alphaVbeta3 manifests a bent conformation that is capable of stably binding a physiological ligand in solution.     

Global conformational rearrangements in integrin extracellular domains in outside-in and inside-out signaling

How ligand binding alters integrin conformation in outside-in signaling, and how inside-out signals alter integrin affinity for ligand, have been mysterious. We address this with electron microscopy, physicochemical measurements, mutational introduction of disulfides, and ligand binding to alphaVbeta3 and alphaIIbbeta3 integrins. We show that a highly bent integrin conformation is physiological and has low affinity for biological ligands. Addition of a high affinity ligand mimetic peptide or Mn(2+) results in a switchblade-like opening to an extended structure. An outward swing of the hybrid domain at its junction with the I-like domain shows conformational change within the headpiece that is linked to ligand binding. Breakage of a C-terminal clasp between the alpha and beta subunits enhances Mn(2+)-induced unbending and ligand binding.     

Alphavbeta3 integrin associates with activated insulin and PDGFbeta receptors and potentiates the biological activity of PDGF.

Integrin-mediated cell attachment modulates growth responses and growth factors regulate cell attachment. Moreover, both cell attachment to extracellular matrix and mitogenic signaling by growth factors are necessary for the proliferation of most types of normal cells, suggesting that integrin and growth factor receptor signaling pathways meet at some downstream point. We report here that a small, highly tyrosine-phosphorylated fraction of PDGFbeta and insulin receptors co-immunoprecipitates with the alphavbeta3 integrin from cells. The integrin association requires growth factor stimulation of the receptors. Several signaling molecules that are known to be associated with activated growth factor receptors were present in the alphavbeta3 integrin complexes. Mitogenicity and chemotaxis induced by PDGF-BB were enhanced in cells plated on the alphavbeta3 ligand vitronectin compared with cells plated on the beta1 integrin ligand collagen. Thus, the engagement of the alphavbeta3 integrin in cell-matrix interactions appears to coordinate an intense response to growth factors, helping to explain the importance of this integrin for tissue regeneration, angiogenesis and tumor metastasis.     

Dual functionality of the anti-beta1 integrin antibody, 12G10, exemplifies agonistic signalling from the ligand binding pocket of integrin adhesion receptors

Although integrins are known to mediate connections between extracellular adhesion molecules and the intracellular actin cytoskeleton, the mechanisms that are responsible for coupling ligand binding to intracellular signaling, for generating diversity in signaling, and for determining the efficacy of integrin signaling in response to ligand engagement are largely unknown. By characterizing the class of anti-integrin monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that stimulate integrin activation and ligand binding, we have identified integrin-ligand-mAb complexes that exhibit differential signaling properties. Specifically, addition of 12G10 mAb to cells adhering via integrin alpha4beta1 was found to trigger disruption of the actin cytoskeleton and prevent cell attachment and spreading, whereas mAb addition to cells adhering via alpha5beta1 stimulated all of these processes. In contrast, soluble ligand binding to either alpha4beta1 or alpha5beta1 was augmented or unaffected by 12G10. The regions of the integrin responsible for differential signaling were then mapped using chimeras. Surprisingly, a chimeric alpha5 integrin containing the beta-propeller domain from the ligand binding pocket of alpha4 exhibited the same signaling properties as the full-length alpha4 integrin, whereas exchanging or removing cytoplasmic domains had no effect. Thus the mAb 12G10 demonstrates dual functionality, inhibiting cell adhesion and spreading while augmenting soluble ligand binding, via a mechanism that is determined by the extracellular beta-propeller domain of the associating alpha-subunit. These findings therefore demonstrate a direct and variable agonistic link between the ligand binding pocket of integrins and the cell interior that is independent of the alpha cytoplasmic domains. We propose that either ligand-specific transmembrane conformational changes or ligand-specific differences in the kinetics of transmembrane domain separation underlie integrin agonism.     

Ligand-dependent activation of integrin alpha vbeta 3

The ability of leukocytes to self-regulate adhesion during transendothelial and extravascular migration is fundamental to the performance of immune surveillance in complex extracellular matrices. Leukocyte adhesion is regulated through the modulation of integrin receptors such as alpha(v)beta(3). In this study, we examined the activation of alpha(v)beta(3) resulting from attachment to vitronectin or fibronectin. In K562 cells stably expressing transfected alpha(v)beta(3), adhesion to vitronectin required tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta(3) subunit and activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and protein kinase C. In contrast, adhesion to fibronectin proceeded without beta(3)-tyrosine phosphorylation or the activities of phosphoinositide 3-kinase or protein kinase C. Firm adhesion to both ligands and actin stress fiber formation required both Syk and Rho activity, suggesting that each ligand employs unique signaling pathways to achieve an active integrin complex, likely merging at a common RhoGEF such as Vav. Distinct signaling by a single integrin species interacting with different ligands permits initiation of additional cellular processes specific to the current task and provides an explanation for what has been described as promiscuous ligand specificity among integrins.     

Ligands "activate" integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet GPIIb-IIIa)

Integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet GPIIb-IIIa) binds fibrinogen via recognition sequences such as Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD). Fibrinogen binding requires agonist activation of platelets, whereas the binding of short synthetic RGD peptides does not. We now find that RGD peptide binding leads to changes in alpha IIb beta 3 that are associated with acquisition of high affinity fibrinogen-binding function (activation) and subsequent platelet aggregation. The structural specificities for peptide activation and for inhibition of ligand binding are similar, indicating that both are consequences of occupancy of the same site(s) on alpha IIb beta 3. Thus, the RGD sequence is a trigger of high affinity ligand binding to alpha IIb beta 3, and certain RGD-mimetics are partial agonists as well as competitive antagonists of integrin function.