Cloning and sequence analysis of beta-4 cDNA: an integrin subunit that contains a unique 118 kd cytoplasmic domain

The alpha 6 beta 4 complex is a member of the integrin superfamily of adhesion receptors. A human keratinocyte lambda gt11 cDNA library was screened using a monoclonal antibody directed against the beta 4 subunit. Two cDNAs were selected and subsequently used to isolate a complete set of overlapping cDNA clones. The beta 4 subunit consists of 1778 amino acids with a 683 amino acid extracellular domain, a 23 amino acid transmembrane domain and an exceptionally long cytoplasmic domain of 1072 residues. The deduced amino-terminal sequence is in good agreement with the published amino-terminal sequence of purified beta 4. The extracellular domain contains five potential N-linked glycosylation sites and four cysteine-rich homologous repeat sequences. The extracellular part of the beta 4 subunit sequence shows 35% identify with other integrin beta subunits, but is the most different among this class of molecules. The transmembrane region is poorly conserved, whereas the cytoplasmic domain shows no substantial identity in any region to the cytoplasmic tails of the known beta sequences or to other protein sequences. The exceptionally long cytoplasmic domain suggests distinct interactions of the beta 4 subunit with cytoplasmic proteins.     

Cloning and expression of a divergent integrin subunit beta 8

Rabbit and human cDNA clones have been identified that encode a novel integrin beta subunit. The sequences that encode this subunit, which has been designated as beta 8, were isolated initially from rabbit placental cDNA libraries using an oligonucleotide probe derived from a highly conserved region of integrin beta subunit sequences. The rabbit clone was used to isolate human beta 8 cDNA clones from human placental and MG-63 osteosarcoma cell libraries. The putative beta 8 polypeptides, which comprise 769 and 768 residues in human and rabbit, respectively, show a high degree of inter-species conservation (approximately 90% identity). In contrast, beta 8 is distinct from the other integrin beta subunits. At the amino acid level human beta 8 ranges from 31 to 37% identity with human beta 1-7. The domain structure of beta 8 is typical of the integrin beta subunits. Human beta 8 has a 42-residue N-terminal signal peptide, a large extracellular domain (approximately 639 residues) that contains four cysteine-rich repeats, a transmembrane domain (approximately 30 residues), and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain (approximately 58 residues). There are several structural features that are unique to the beta 8 polypeptide, as compared with the other integrin beta subunits. Six of the 56 cysteine residues that are conserved within the extracellular domains of beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, beta 5, beta 6, and the beta subunit from Drosophila are absent in the beta 8 polypeptide. Also, the cytoplasmic domain of the beta 8 subunit shares no homology with the cytoplasmic regions of any of the other integrin beta subunits. Northern analysis demonstrated an approximately 8-kilobase beta 8 mRNA in rabbit placenta, kidney, brain, ovary, and uterus. PCR analysis revealed that beta 8 mRNA is also present in several transformed human cell lines. The beta 8 polypeptide has been transiently expressed in 293 human embryonic kidney cells. A polyclonal antipeptide antibody specific for beta 8 and a polyclonal antibody that recognizes alpha v epitopes were used to show that beta 8 can complex with the endogenous alpha v subunit in 293 cells and that the resulting integrin is expressed as a cell surface complex.     

Complete amino acid sequence of a novel integrin beta subunit (beta 6) identified in epithelial cells using the polymerase chain reaction

The integrin family of adhesion receptors consists of several heterodimeric glycoproteins, each composed of one alpha and one beta subunit. Three different mammalian beta subunits, beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3, have been sequenced, but recent evidence suggests the existence of several others. Amplification of guinea pig airway epithelial cell cDNA with oligonucleotide primers designed to recognize consensus integrin beta subunit sequences led to the identification of a novel partial cDNA sequence. Clones containing portions of this sequence were used to screen cDNA libraries constructed from the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line FG-2 and identified a series of overlapping clones encoding the full-length sequence of the human homologue of this protein. This sequence of 788 amino acids is 43, 38, and 47% identical to the sequences of beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3, respectively. Features shared between this novel protein and the previously sequenced beta subunits include the positions of all 56 cysteine residues in the extracellular domain, the single putative transmembrane domain, and the short putative cytoplasmic domain. However, a unique 11-amino acid extension at the carboxyl terminus, not present in any of the other beta subunits, is suggestive of distinctive interactions with cytoplasmic components. Comparison of the human and guinea pig sequences reveals a high degree (94%) of cross-species conservation. Because this protein is clearly distinct from the two other recently described integrins beta 4 and beta 5, we propose to designate it beta 6.     

The primary structure of the VLA-2/collagen receptor alpha 2 subunit (platelet GPIa): homology to other integrins and the presence of a possible collagen-binding domain

VLA-2 (also called gpIa/IIa on platelets) is a collagen receptor with a unique alpha subunit and a beta subunit common to other adhesion receptors in the VLA/integrin family. Multiple cDNA clones for the human VLA-2 alpha 2 subunit have been selected from a lambda gtll library by specific antibody screening. The 5,374-bp nucleotide sequence encoded for 1,181 amino acids, including a signal peptide of 29 amino acids followed by a long extracellular domain (1,103 amino acids), a transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic segment (22 amino acids). Direct sequencing of purified alpha 2 protein confirmed the identity of the 15 NH2-terminal amino acids. Overall, the alpha 2 amino acid sequence was 18-25% similar to the sequences known for other integrin alpha subunits. In particular, the alpha 2 sequence matched other integrin alpha chains in (a) the positions of 17 of its 20 cysteine residues; (b) the presence of three metal-binding domains of the general structure DXDXDGXXD; and (c) the transmembrane domain sequence. In addition, the alpha 2 sequence has a 191-amino acid insert (called the I-domain), previously found only in leukocyte integrins of the beta 2 integrin family. The alpha 2 I-domain was 23-41% similar to domains in cartilage matrix protein and von Willebrand factor, which are perhaps associated with collagen binding. The NH2-terminal sequence reported here for alpha 2 does not match the previously reported alpha 2 NH2-terminal sequence (Takada, Y., J. L. Strominger, and M. E. Hemler. 1987. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 84:3239-3243). Resolution of this discrepancy suggests that there may be another VLA heterodimer that resembles VLA-2 in size but has a different amino acid sequence.     

cDNA cloning and complete primary structure of the alpha subunit of a leukocyte adhesion glycoprotein, p150,95.

The leukocyte adhesion receptors, p150,95, Mac-1 and LFA-1 are integral membrane glycoproteins which contain distinct alpha subunits of 180,000-150,000 Mr associated with identical beta subunits of 95,000 Mr in alpha beta complexes. p150,95 alpha subunit tryptic peptides were used to specify oligonucleotide probes and a cDNA clone of 4.7 kb containing the entire coding sequence was isolated from a size-selected myeloid cell cDNA library. The 4.7-kb cDNA clone encodes a signal sequence, an extracellular domain of 1081 amino acids containing 10 potential glycosylation sites, a transmembrane domain of 26 amino acids, and a C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of 29 residues. The extracellular domain contains three tandem homologous repeats of approximately 60 amino acids with putative divalent cation-binding sites, and four weaker repeats which lack such binding sites. The cDNA clone hybridizes with a mRNA of 4.7 kb which is induced during in vitro differentiation of myeloid cell lines. The p150,95 alpha subunit is homologous to the alpha subunits of receptors which recognize the RGD sequence in extracellular matrix components, as has previously been shown for the beta subunits, supporting the concept that receptors involved in both cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions belong to a single gene superfamily termed the integrins. Distinctive features of the p150,95 alpha subunit include an insertion of 126 residues N-terminal to the putative metal binding region and a deletion of the region in which the matrix receptors are proteolytically cleaved during processing.     

Molecular cloning and expression of the cDNA for alpha 3 subunit of human alpha 3 beta 1 (VLA-3), an integrin receptor for fibronectin, laminin, and collagen

alpha 3 beta 1 (VLA-3), a member of the integrin family of cell adhesion receptors, may function as a receptor for fibronectin, laminin, and collagen. A partial cDNA clone (2.4 kb) for the human alpha 3 subunit was selected from an endothelial cell lambda gt11 cDNA library by specific antibody screening. Several overlapping cDNA clones were subsequently obtained, of a total length of 4.6 kb from various cDNA libraries. The reconstructed alpha 3 cDNA was expressed on the surface of chinese hamster ovary cells as detected by an alpha 3- specific mAb after transfection, suggesting that the cDNA is authentic. Within this sequence was an open reading frame, encoding for 1,051 amino acids, including a signal peptide of 32 residues, a long extracellular domain (959 residues), a transmembrane domain (28 residues), and a short cytoplasmic segment (32 residues). Overall, the alpha 3 amino acid sequence was 25-37% similar to the other integrin alpha subunits that are cleaved, with most similarity to the alpha 6 sequence (37%), and less similarity to those alpha subunits that have I domains (15-20%, excluding the I domain sequence itself). Features most like those in other alpha subunits are (a) the positions of 18/19 cysteine residues, (b) three potential metal binding domains of the general structure DX(D/N)X(D/N)GXXD, and (c) the predicted transmembrane domain. The mass of alpha 3 calculated from its amino acid sequence is 113,505. The human alpha 3 sequence was 89% identical to hamster galactoprotein b3, and 70% similar to the chicken CSAT antigen band 2 protein partial sequence, suggesting that these two polypeptides are homologues of human alpha 3.     

Molecular cloning of the rat integrin alpha 1-subunit: a receptor for laminin and collagen

Integrin heterodimers mediate a variety of adhesive interactions, including neuronal attachment to and process outgrowth on laminin. We report here the cloning and primary sequence of an M-200 kD integrin alpha subunit that associates with the integrin beta 1 subunit to form a receptor for both laminin and collagen. Similarities in ligand-binding specificity, relative molecular mass and NH2-terminal sequence make this a strong candidate for the rat homologue of the alpha subunit of the human integrin VLA-1. The full-length rat alpha 1 cDNAs encode a protein containing a purative signal sequence and a mature polypeptide of 1,152 amino acids, with extracellular, transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Several structural features are conserved with other integrin alpha chains, including (a) a sequence motif repeated seven times in the NH2-terminal half; (b) potential Ca2+/Mg2+ binding sites in repeats 5, 6, and 7, and (c) alignment of at least 14 of 23 cysteine residues. This rat alpha 1 sequence also contains a 206-amino acid I domain, inserted between repeats 2 and 3, that is homologous to I domains found in the same position in the alpha subunits of several integrins (VLA-2, Mac-1, LFA-1, p150). The rat alpha 1 and human VLA-2 apha subunits share greater than 50% sequence identity in the seven repeats and I domain, suggesting that these sequence identities may underlie some of their similar ligand-binding specificities. However, the rat integrin alpha 1 subunit has several unique features, including a 38-residue insert between two Ca2+/Mg2+ binding domains, and a divergent 15-residue cytoplasmic sequence, that may potentially account for unique functions of this integrin.     

cDNA cloning of mouse VLA-3 α subunit

cDNA clones for mouse VLA (very late antigen)-3 α subunit (α3 integrin) were isolated and sequenced. The encoded mouse α3 integrin subunit was composed of 1,053 amino acid residues. The results of sequence analysis revealed similar structural characteristics to other VLA α subunits. For example, the presence of a large extracellular domain including three putative metal binding sequences, a transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic domain. A higher level of its message was detected in thymus than in kidney, stomach, spleen, liver, brain, or lung by Northern blotting analysis.     

Primary structure of the leukocyte function-associated molecule-1 alpha subunit: an integrin with an embedded domain defining a protein superfamily

The leukocyte function-associated molecule 1 (LFA-1, CD11a/CD18) is a membrane glycoprotein which functions in cell-cell adhesion by heterophilic interaction with intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). LFA-1 consists of an alpha subunit (Mr = 180,000) and a beta subunit (Mr = 95,000). We report the molecular biology and protein sequence of the alpha subunit. Overlapping cDNAs containing 5,139 nucleotides were isolated using an oligonucleotide specified by tryptic peptide sequence. The mRNA of 5.5 kb is expressed in lymphoid and myeloid cells but not in a bladder carcinoma cell line. The protein has a 1,063-amino acid extracellular domain, a 29-amino acid transmembrane region, and a 53-amino acid cytoplasmic tail. The extracellular domain contains seven repeats. Repeats V-VII are in tandem and contain putative divalent cation binding sites. LFA-1 has significant homology to the members of the integrin superfamily, having 36% identity with the Mac-1 and p150,95 alpha subunits and 28% identity with other integrin alpha subunits. An insertion of approximately 200 amino acids is present in the NH2-terminal region of LFA-1. This "inserted/interactive" or I domain is also present in the p150,95 and Mac-1 alpha subunits but is absent from other integrin alpha subunits sequenced to date. The I domain has striking homology to three repeats in human von Willebrand factor, two repeats in chicken cartilage matrix protein, and a region of complement factor B. These structural features indicate a bipartite evolution from the integrin family and from an I domain family. These features may also correspond to relevant functional domains.     

Amino acid sequence of the human fibronectin receptor

The amino acid sequence deduced from cDNA of the human placental fibronectin receptor is reported. The receptor is composed of two subunits: an alpha subunit of 1,008 amino acids which is processed into two polypeptides disulfide bonded to one another, and a beta subunit of 778 amino acids. Each subunit has near its COOH terminus a hydrophobic segment. This and other sequence features suggest a structure for the receptor in which the hydrophobic segments serve as transmembrane domains anchoring each subunit to the membrane and dividing each into a large ectodomain and a short cytoplasmic domain. The alpha subunit ectodomain has five sequence elements homologous to consensus Ca2+-binding sites of several calcium-binding proteins, and the beta subunit contains a fourfold repeat strikingly rich in cysteine. The alpha subunit sequence is 46% homologous to the alpha subunit of the vitronectin receptor. The beta subunit is 44% homologous to the human platelet adhesion receptor subunit IIIa and 47% homologous to a leukocyte adhesion receptor beta subunit. The high degree of homology (85%) of the beta subunit with one of the polypeptides of a chicken adhesion receptor complex referred to as integrin complex strongly suggests that the latter polypeptide is the chicken homologue of the fibronectin receptor beta subunit. These receptor subunit homologies define a superfamily of adhesion receptors. The availability of the entire protein sequence for the fibronectin receptor will facilitate studies on the functions of these receptors.     

Cloning, primary structure and properties of a novel human integrin beta subunit.

The originally described integrin beta subunits that define the three subfamilies of integrin heterodimers are beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3. In this paper, we describe the isolation of a cDNA coding for a novel human integrin beta subunit, designated as beta 5. The beta 5 cDNA was isolated from a human thymic epithelial cell library, using oligonucleotide probes that were designed from a region highly conserved among the known beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3 sequences. The beta 5 cDNA codes for 799 (or 796) amino acids, including a 23 amino acid leader sequence. There are 776 (or 773) amino acids in the mature protein, which includes a long extracellular domain of 696 amino acids, a transmembrane domain and an intracellular C-terminal domain of 57 amino acids. The beta 5 sequence resembled the known beta 3, beta 1 and beta 2 sequences by 55, 43 and 38%, respectively, including conservation of 56/56 cysteines. Rabbit antiserum was prepared against a 20 amino acid synthetic peptide predicted from the beta 5 C-terminal sequence. This serum immunoprecipitated a beta 5 protein that was 100,000 Mr (reduced) and 95,000 Mr (nonreduced). Only a single alpha subunit was detected in association with beta 5, and that alpha subunit was immunochemically indistinguishable from the alpha v subunit previously found as part of the vitronectin receptor complex. By immunoprecipitation, beta 5 was most prevalent on carcinoma cell lines, was also present on hepatoma and fibroblast cell lines, and was absent from lymphoblastoid cells and platelets.     

Mouse macrophage β subunit (CD11b) cDNA for the CR3 complement receptor/Mac-1 antigen

The cDNA for the common \_Mac-1 subunit (CD11b) of the mouse LFA-1/Mac-1/p150,95 group of leukocyte cell adhesion receptors, formally designated integrin \₂, has been cloned and sequenced. Clones were isolated from cDNA libraries made from J774 macrophage and WEHI-3B myelomonocytic tumor cells which express this subunit as a component of the macrophage activation antigen 1 (Mac-1), also known as complement receptor type 3 (CR3). This subunit is expressed as a single, abundant mRNA species approximately 2.7 kilobase (kb) in size. The 2422 base pair (bp) cDNA sequence obtained codes for a 771 amino acid protein organized with leader, extracellular, transmembrane, and cytoplamic domains of 23, 680, 23, and 46 amino acids, respectively, yielding an 82700 mature protein of 747 amino acids. The mouse \_Mac-1 subunit is highly similar to its human counterpart with an overall sequence identity of 81% and identical positioning of 5 out of 6 potential N-linked glycosylation sites, as well as 56 Cys residues that are organized in repeating motifs characteristic of integrin \ subunits. The most highly conserved regions are the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains where only 4 out of 69 amino acids differ, indicating that the functions associated with this domain in Mac-1-mediated processes, such as iC3b-triggered phagocytosis, have been evolutionarily conserved.The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank nucleotide sequence database and have been assigned the accession number M31039. Offprint requests to: P. M. Hogarth.     

The integrin cytoplasmic-tail motif EKQKVDLSTDC is sufficient to promote tumor cell invasion mediated by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 or MMP-9

Integrins promote cellular invasion through a combination of activities, including adhesion to an extracellular matrix ligand, which result in the generation of intracellular signals that lead to changes in cell behavior. Until now, there have been no data that identify a particular region of the cytoplasmic tail of integrin subunits as being responsible specifically for promoting the invasive activity of tumor cells. In this report, we show that amino acids with the sequence EKQKVDLSTDC, which are the C-terminal residues of the integrin beta6 subunit, promote alphavbeta6-dependent invasion in a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9-dependent fashion. This same peptide sequence, when expressed at the cytoplasmic end of the beta3 integrin subunit, was able to enhance alphavbeta3-mediated invasive and enzymatic activity of tumor cells in an MMP-2-dependent fashion. Our results show that these 11 amino acids, when expressed at the C terminus of the beta subunit, are responsible for regulating the activity of invasion-promoting degradative enzymes, whereas the specific MMP involved in this cellular behavior is dependent on the context of the remainder of the beta integrin subunit.     

The human leukocyte adhesion glycoprotein Mac-1 (complement receptor type 3, CD11b) alpha subunit. Cloning, primary structure, and relation to the integrins, von Willebrand factor and factor B

Mac-1 (CD 11b/CD18) is a leukocyte adhesion heterodimeric glycoprotein which functions both as a receptor for iC3b (CR3) and in several cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesive interactions. We describe full-length cDNA clones for the alpha subunit of Mac-1. Mac-1 alpha subunit message was detected in blood monocytes and phorbol-12-myristate acetate-induced myeloid cell lines, but not in cells of the T or B lineages, correlating with Mac-1 protein surface expression. The alpha subunit of Mac-1 is a transmembrane protein of 1137 residues with a long extracellular domain (1092 residues) and a 19-amino acid cytoplasmic tail. The extracellular domain contains three putative divalent cation-binding sequences and 19 potential N-glycosylation sites. The amino acid sequence of Mac-1 alpha shows that it is a member of the integrin superfamily; Mac-1 alpha shows 63% identity to the alpha subunit of the leukocyte adhesion glycoprotein p150.95 and 25% to the alpha subunits of the extracellular matrix receptors platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, the fibronectin receptor, and the vitronectin receptor. The Mac-1 alpha subunit putative divalent cation-binding sites and the flanking regions exhibit a high degree of identity both to the p150.95 alpha subunit (87% identity at the amino acid level) and to the rest of the integrin alpha subunits (38%). The alpha subunit of Mac-1, like the p150.95 alpha subunit, contains a domain of 187 amino acids in the extracellular region which is absent in other integrins. This leukocyte or "L" domain is homologous to the A domains of von Willebrand factor, which in turn are homologous to regions of the C3-binding proteins factor B and C2. These findings draw attention to this region of Mac-1 as a potential binding site for iC3b.     

cDNA cloning and chromosomal localization of human alpha(11) integrin. A collagen-binding, I domain-containing, beta(1)-associated integrin alpha-chain present in muscle tissues.

We previously identified a novel integrin alpha-chain in human fetal muscle cells (Gullberg, D., Velling, T., Sj?berg, G., and Sejersen, T. (1995) Dev. Dyn. 204, 57-65). We have now isolated the full-length cDNA for this integrin subunit, alpha(11). The open reading frame of the cDNA encodes a precursor of 1188 amino acids. The predicted mature protein of 1166 amino acids contains seven conserved FG-GAP repeats, an I domain with a metal ion-dependent adhesion site motif, a short transmembrane region, and a unique cytoplasmic domain of 24 amino acids containing the sequence GFFRS. alpha(11), like other I domain integrins, lacks a dibasic cleavage site for generation of a heavy chain and a light chain, and it contains three potential divalent cation binding sites in repeats 5-7. The presence of 22 inserted amino acids in the extracellular stalk portion (amino acids 804-826) distinguishes the alpha(11) integrin sequence from other integrin alpha-chains. Amino acid sequence comparisons reveal the highest identity of 42% with the alpha(10) integrin chain. Immunoprecipitation with antibodies to alpha(11) integrin captures a 145-kDa protein distinctly larger than the 140-kDa alpha(2) integrin chain when analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions. Fluorescence in situ hybridization maps the integrin alpha(11) gene to chromosome 15q23, in the vicinity of an identified locus for Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Based on Northern blotting, integrin alpha(11) mRNA levels are high in the adult human uterus and in the heart and intermediate in skeletal muscle and some other tissues tested. During in vitro myogenic differentiation, alpha(11) mRNA and protein are up-regulated. Studies of ligand binding properties show that alpha(11)beta(1) binds collagen type I-Sepharose, and cultured muscle cells localize alpha(11)beta(1) into focal contacts on collagen type I. Future studies will reveal the importance of alpha(11)beta(1) for muscle development and integrity in adult muscle and other tissues.     

An alternative form of the integrin beta 1 subunit with a variant cytoplasmic domain.

We have identified an alternatively spliced form of the human beta 1 integrin subunit, beta 1S. The beta 1S mRNA is expressed in human platelets, HEL and K562 erythroleukemia cell lines, and THP1 monocytic and HL60 promyelocytic cell lines. It is undetectable in peripheral blood lymphocytes and cultured umbilical vein endothelial cells at early passages. The beta 1S cDNA encodes a new cytoplasmic domain distinct from the previously reported alternative cytoplasmic domain of the beta 1 subunit. The sequence reveals the presence of an insert of 116 nucleotides which produces a frame shift in the previously reported 3' end of the beta 1 integrin subunit and codes for a unique 48-amino acid COOH-terminal sequence. An antiserum prepared against a synthetic peptide generated from the deduced sequence of the beta 1S cytoplasmic domain immunoprecipitated an HEL cell surface molecule that comigrated with the usual beta 1 subunit in sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis. The immunoprecipitation indicated that beta 1S constitutes a minor portion of total beta 1 subunit in these cells. This variant beta 1 cytoplasmic tail may modulate integrin affinity and may provide additional modes for the transduction of extracellular signals and modulation of cytoskeletal organization by beta 1 integrins.