A Mechanism for Localized Dynamics-driven Affinity Regulation of the Binding of von Willebrand Factor to Platelet Glycoprotein Ibα

Binding of the A1 domain of von Willebrand factor (vWF) to glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) results in platelet adhesion, activation, and aggregation that initiates primary hemostasis. Both the elevated shear stress and the mutations associated with type 2B von Willebrand disease enhance the interaction between A1 and GPIbα. Through molecular dynamics simulations for wild-type vWF-A1 and its eight gain of function mutants (R543Q, I546V, ΔSS, etc.), we found that the gain of function mutations destabilize the N-terminal arm, increase a clock pendulum-like movement of the α2-helix, and turn a closed A1 conformation into a partially open one favoring binding to GPIbα. The residue Arg⁵⁷⁸ at the α2-helix behaves as a pivot in the destabilization of the N-terminal arm and a consequent dynamic change of the α2-helix. These results suggest a localized dynamics-driven affinity regulation mechanism for vWF-GPIbα interaction. Allosteric drugs controlling this intrinsic protein dynamics may be effective in blocking the GPIb-vWF interaction.     

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Complexes Between Wild-Type and Mutant Anthrax Protective Antigen Variants and a Model Anthrax Toxin Receptor

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming infectious bacterium, produces a toxin consisting of three proteins: lethal factor (LF), edema factor (EF), and protective antigen (PA). LF and EF possess intracellular enzymatic functions, the net effect of which is to severely compromise host innate immunity. During an anthrax infection PA plays the critical role of facilitating entry of both EF and LF toxins into host cell cytoplasm. Crystal structures of all three of the anthrax toxins have been determined, as well as the crystal structure of the (human) von Willebrand factor A (integrin VWA/I domain)—an anthrax toxin receptor. A theoretical structure of the complex between VWA/I and PA has also been reported. Here we report on the results of 1,000 psec molecular dynamics (MD) simulations carried out on complexes between the Anthrax Protective Antigen Domain 4 (PA-D4) and the von Willebrand Factor A (VWA/I). MD simulations (using Insight II software) were carried out for complexes containing wildtype (WT) PA-D4, as well as for complexes containing three different mutants of PA-D4, one containing three substitutions in the PA-D4 “small loop” (residues 679–693) (D683A/L685E/Y688C), one containing a single substitution at a key site at the PA-D4—receptor interface (K679A) and another containing a deletion of eleven residues at the C-terminus of PA (A724–735). All three sets of PA mutations have been shown experimentally to result in serious deficiencies in PA function. Our MD results are consistent with these findings. Major disruptions in interactions were observed between the mutant PA-D4 domains and the anthrax receptor during the MD simulations. Many secondary structural features in PA-D4 are also severely compromised when VWA complexes with mutant variants of PA-D4 are subjected to MD simulations. These MD simulation results clearly indicate the importance of the mutated PA-D4 residues in both the “small loop” and at the carboxyl terminus in maintaining a PA conformation that is capable of effective interaction with the anthrax toxin receptor.     

Structural basis of von Willebrand factor activation by the snake toxin botrocetin

The A1 domain of von Willebrand factor (vWF) mediates platelet adhesion to sites of vascular injury by binding to the platelet receptor glycoprotein Ib (GpIb), an interaction that is regulated by hydrodynamic shear forces. The GpIb binding surface of A1 is distinct from a regulatory region, suggesting that ligand binding is controlled allosterically. Here we report the crystal structures of the "gain-of-function" mutant A1 domain (I546V) and its complex with the exogenous activator botrocetin. We show that botrocetin switches the mutant A1 back toward the wild-type conformation, suggesting that affinity is enhanced by augmenting the GpIb binding surface rather than through allosteric control. Functional studies of platelet adhesion under flow further suggest that the activation mechanism is distinct from that of the gain-of-function mutation.     

N-terminal flanking region of A1 domain in von Willebrand factor stabilizes structure of A1A2A3 complex and modulates platelet activation under shear stress

von Willebrand factor (vWF) mediates platelet adhesion and thrombus formation via its interaction with the platelet receptor glycoprotein (GP)Ibα. We have analyzed two A1A2A3 tri-domain proteins to demonstrate that the amino acid sequence, Gln(1238)-Glu(1260), in the N-terminal flanking region of the A1 domain, together with the association between the A domains, modulates vWF-GPIbα binding and platelet activation under shear stress. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, we have described that sequence Gln(1238)-Glu(1260) stabilizes the structural conformation of the A1A2A3 tri-domain complex. The structural stabilization imparted by this particular region inhibits the binding capacity of the tri-domain protein for GPIbα. Deletion of this region causes a conformational change in the A1 domain that increases binding to GPIbα. Only the truncated protein was capable of effectively blocking ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination. To determine the capacity of activating platelets via the interaction with GPIbα, whole blood was incubated with the N-terminal region truncated or intact tri-A domain protein prior to perfusion over a fibrin(ogen)-coated surface. At a high shear rate of 1,500 s(-1), platelets from blood containing the truncated protein rapidly bound, covering >90% of the fibrin(ogen) surface area, whereas the intact tri-A domain protein induced platelets to bind <10%. The results obtained in this study ascertain the relevant role of the structural association between the N-terminal flanking region of the A1 domain (amino acids Gln(1238)-Glu(1260)) and the A1A2A3 domain complex in preventing vWF to bind spontaneously to GPIbα in solution under high shear forces.     

Ser 752 mutation to pro or ala in the β3 integrin subunit differentially affects the kinetics of cell spreading to von willebrand factor and fibrinogen

The β3 cytoplasmic domain of the αvβ3 integrin is essential for intracellular signals required for cytoskeletal rearrangements. Expression of β3Ser752Pro mutation in heterologous cells profoundly affects cell spreading and β3 localization into focal contacts. However, the β3Ser752A1a substitution mostly restores normal integrin functions, suggesting that the presence of Pro is responsible for the receptor's loss of function. To further assess the role of the Ser752 of the β3 cytoplasmic domain in the cytoskeletal organization of adherent cells, we developed a computer-assisted method of image analysis allowing the automatic classification of spread cells according to the quantitative analysis of their cell morphology. We compared adhesion and spreading to von Willebrand factor (vWF) or fibrinogen (Fg) of cells expressing β3 wild type, β3Ser752Pro or β3Ser752A1a mutated integrin subunit as a chimeric αvβ3 receptor. The β3Ser752A1a substitution did not impair the general ability of cells to spread, but resulted in a delayed and reduced spreading on both vWF and Fg. Moreover, the β3Ser752A1a mutation produced modifications of the morphology of spread cells, suggesting a disorganization of their cytoskeleton. Attachment studies showed that the β3Ser752A1a mutation did not modify the capacity of cells to attach to the substrate, indicating no change in the ligand binding affinity of the αvβ3 integrin. Furthermore, we identified a slight defect of β3Ser752Pro cell attachment to vWF and Fg, beside their impairment of spreading. Taken together, these results suggest a role of Ser752 of the β3 cytoplasmic domain in the optimal cytoskeletal organization of adherent cells.     

vWF-ΔPro改善基于蛋白质剪接的双载体BDD-FVIII基因转移

多聚体von Willebrand因子(vWF)的功能之一是保护凝血Ⅷ因子(FⅧ)免受蛋白水解引起的快速清除．前肽缺失突变体vWF (vWF-ΔPro)不能形成多聚体,但可以结合FⅧ蛋白．为探讨vWF-ΔPro对基于蛋白质反式剪接作用介导的双载体转FⅧ基因后连接的FⅧ蛋白的分泌和活性的影响,将vWF-ΔPro基因和融合Ssp DnaB内含肽的B结构域缺失型FⅧ(BDD-FⅧ)断裂基因共转染293细胞进行转基因的瞬时表达,用Western印迹检测了单独转染vWF-ΔPro基因细胞的vWF-ΔPro表达量和蛋白形式,并检测了其对FⅧ的结合力;用ELISA法观察分泌至培养上清中的剪接的BDD-FⅧ,并用Coatest法检测由其产生的生物活性．结果显示,vWF-ΔPro转基因细胞呈现二聚体蛋白表达形式,其结合FⅧ的能力与转野生型vWF基因细胞相近;vWF-ΔPro共转染细胞上清中剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白浓度为198±21 ng/mL,活性为1.78±0.18 IU/mL,明显高于未转染vWF-ΔPro基因的细胞对照(91±12 ng/mL和1.05±0.13 IU/mL),与共转染野生型vWF基因细胞对照相近(221±19 ng/mL和1.95±0.22 IU/mL),表明vWF-ΔPro可显著改善内含肽剪接的BDD-FⅧ蛋白的分泌和生物活性．为vWF-ΔPro转基因的基于蛋白质剪接技术双AAV载体转BDD-FⅧ基因动物体内实验提供了依据．     

双Intein介导3片段vWF的反式剪接

von Willebrand因子(vWF)基因突变导致血管性血友病(VWD),由于其基因过大在基因治疗研究中难以为多数病毒载体携带.利用双内含肽(intein)的蛋白质反式剪接功能研究断裂成3段的vWF基因分别表达后在蛋白水平的连接,旨在为vWF基因的3载体联合转移应用于VWD基因治疗研究提供依据.将vWF cDNA于满足剪接所需的保守性氨基酸Cys1099、Ser2004的密码子前断裂为3段(N、M和C),分别与splitSspDnaE intein的N端(En)、C端(Ec)和splitSspDnaB intein的N端(Bn)、C端(Bc)编码序列融合,构建到原核表达载体pET-28a(+)中的His-Tag的下游,得到3种表达载体pET-NEn、pET-EcMBn和pET-BcC.分别转化感受态大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)细胞,经IPTG诱导表达后,以SDS-PAGE分析融合蛋白的表达,并进一步用His-Tag的特异性抗体进行分析;亲和层析纯化分别表达的带His-Tag标签的3段蛋白,复性后体外混合进行剪接实验以观察3片段vWF的连接.结果显示,3段预期大小的融合intein的vWF蛋白均有表达,用His-Tag抗体进行的Western印迹得到进一步证实;3段纯化的蛋白混合后可见明显的剪接条带形成,与vWF的预期分子量大小一致,表明双intein通过蛋白质反式剪接可有效连接3个片段的vWF,为进一步应用蛋白质剪接技术的3重载体真核细胞转vWF基因奠定了基础.     

人vWF-A1多肽的融合表达及生物学活性鉴定

血管性血友病因子 (vWF)通过与血小板膜糖蛋白结合介导血小板的粘附和聚集 ,在血栓形成过程中发挥重要作用 .通过阻断血小板与vWF的结合可抑制血栓形成 .应用RT PCR方法从人脐带内皮细胞中克隆vWF A1区基因并在原核细胞内进行表达 ,经过纯化、复性 ,获得重组蛋白(rvWF A1) .用流式细胞术检测rvWF A1与转染了糖蛋白Ib(GPⅠb)的CHO K1细胞和血小板GPⅠb的结合能力 ,血小板聚集仪测定rvWF A1对瑞斯托霉素 (ristocetin)诱导的血小板聚集作用的影响 .重组表达载体pET 2 0b(+ ) vWF A1在大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3)plus中得到有效表达 ,表达的重组蛋白量占菌体总蛋白 30 % .次氮基三乙酸镍琼脂糖 (Ni NTAagarose)柱纯化后 ,其纯度为 95 % .经复性的rvWF A1蛋白具有良好的生物学活性 ,它可与转染了GPⅠb的CHO K1细胞和血小板结合 ,阳性率分别为 96 90 %与 78 6 0 % ,且可以抑制ristocetin诱导的血小板聚集 ,其抑制效应呈剂量依赖性 .IC50 的rvWF A1浓度为 0 5 6 μmol L ,当浓度为 1 4 μmol L时抑制率最高达 84 70 % .结果表明 ,在原核细胞中表达人rvWF A1区蛋白可抑制血浆中野生型vWF与血小板的结合 ,具有抗血栓形成的潜在应用前景     

A molten globule intermediate of the Von Willebrand factor A1 domain firmly tethers platelets under shear flow

Clinical mutations in patients diagnosed with Type 2A von Willebrand disease (VWD) have been identified that break the single disulfide bond linking N‐ and C‐termini in the vWF A1 domain. We have modeled the effect of these mutations on the disulfide‐bonded structure of A1 by reducing and carboxy‐amidating these cysteines. Solution biophysical studies show that loss of this disulfide bond induces a molten globule conformational state lacking global tertiary structure but retaining residual secondary structure. The conformational dependence of platelet adhesion to these native and molten globule states of A1 is quantitatively compared using real‐time high‐speed video microscopy analysis of platelet translocation dynamics under shear flow in a parallel plate microfluidic flow chamber. While normal platelets translocating on surface‐captured native A1 domain retain the catch‐bond character of pause times that increase as a function of shear rate at low shear and decrease as a function of shear rate at high shear, platelets that interact with A1 lacking the disulfide bond remain stably attached and do not translocate. Based on these findings, we propose that the shear stress‐sensitive regulation of the A1‐GPIb interaction is due to folding the tertiary structure of this domain. Removal of the tertiary structure by disrupting the disulfide bond destroys this regulatory mechanism resulting in high‐strength interactions between platelets and vWF A1 that are dependent only on residual secondary structure elements present in the molten globule conformation. Proteins 2014; 82:867–878. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The linker between the D3 and A1 domains of vWF suppresses A1‐GPIbα catch bonds by site‐specific binding to the A1 domain

Platelet attachment to von Willebrand factor (vWF) requires the interaction between the platelet GP1bα and exposed vWF-A1 domains. Structural insights into the mechanism of the A1-GP1bα interaction have been limited to an N-terminally truncated A1 domain that lacks residues Q₁₂₃₈ − E₁₂₆₀ that make up the linker between the D3 and A1 domains of vWF. We have demonstrated that removal of these residues destabilizes quaternary interactions in the A1A2A3 tridomain and contributes to platelet activation under high shear (Auton et al., J Biol Chem 2012;287:14579–14585). In this study, we demonstrate that removal of these residues from the single A1 domain enhances platelet pause times on immobilized A1 under rheological shear. A rigorous comparison between the truncated A1-1261 and full length A1-1238 domains demonstrates a kinetic stabilization of the A1 domain induced by these N-terminal residues as evident in the enthalpy of the unfolding transition. This stabilization occurs through site and sequence-specific binding of the N-terminal peptide to A1. Binding of free N-terminal peptide to A1-1261 has an affinity and this binding although free to dissociate is sufficient to suppress the platelet pause times to levels comparable to A1-1238 under shear stress. Our results support a dual-structure/function role for this linker region involving a conformational equilibria that maintains quaternary A domain associations in the inactive state of vWF at low shear and an intra-A1-domain conformation that regulates the strength of platelet GP1bα-vWF A1 domain associations in the active state of vWF at high shear.     

Misfolding of vWF to Pathologically Disordered Conformations Impacts the Severity of von Willebrand Disease

The primary hemostatic von Willebrand factor (vWF) functions to sequester platelets from rheological blood flow and mediates their adhesion to damaged subendothelium at sites of vascular injury. We have surveyed the effect of 16 disease-causing mutations identified in patients diagnosed with the bleeding diathesis disorder, von Willebrand disease (vWD), on the structure and rheology of vWF A1 domain adhesiveness to the platelet GPIbα receptor. These mutations have a dynamic phenotypical range of bleeding from lack of platelet adhesion to severe thrombocytopenia. Using new rheological tools in combination with classical thermodynamic, biophysical, and spectroscopic metrics, we establish a high propensity of the A1 domain to misfold to pathological molten globule conformations that differentially alter the strength of platelet adhesion under shear flow. Rheodynamic analysis establishes a quantitative rank order between shear-rate-dependent platelet-translocation pause times that linearly correlate with clinically reported measures of patient platelet counts and the severity of thrombocytopenia. These results suggest that specific secondary structure elements remaining in these pathological conformations of the A1 domain regulate GPIbα binding and the strength of vWF-platelet interactions, which affects the vWD functional phenotype and the severity of thrombocytopenia.     

Mapping von Willebrand factor A domain binding sites on a snake venom metalloproteinase cysteine-rich domain

The PIII class of the snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPS) are acknowledged to be one of the major hemorrhage producing toxins in crotalid venoms. This class of SVMPS are structurally distinguished by the presence of disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains carboxy to the metalloproteinase domain and thus share structural homology with many of the ADAMs proteins. It has been suggested that the presence of the carboxy domain are the key structural determinants for potent hemorrhagic activity in that they may serve to target the proteinases to specific key extracellular matrix and cell surface substrates for proteolysis leading to hemorrhage production at the capillaries. Following from previous studies in our laboratory in this investigation we scanned the cysteine-rich domain of the PIII hemorrhagic SVMP jararhagin using synthetic peptides in an attempt to identify regions which could bind to von Willebrand factor (vWF), a known binding partner for jararhagin. From these studies we identified two such peptide, Jar6 and Jar7 that could support binding to vWF as well as block the recombinant cysteine-rich domain of jararhagin binding to vWF. Using the coordinates for the recently solved crystal structure of the PIII SVMP VAP1, we modeled the structure of jararhagin and attempted to dock the modeled cysteine-rich structure of that protein to the A1 domain of vWF. These studies indicated that effective protein-protein interaction between the two ligands was possible and supported the data indicating that the Jar6 peptide was involved, whereas the Jar7 peptide was observed to be sterically blocked from interaction. In summary, our studies have identified a region on the cysteine-rich domain of a PIII SVMP that interacts with vWF and based on molecular modeling could be involving in the interaction of the cysteine-rich domain of the SVMP with the A1 domain of vWF thus serving to target the toxin to the protein for subsequent proteolytic degradation.     

Conformational energy analysis of the substitution of Val for Gly 233 in a functional region of platelet GPIbα in platelet-type von Willebrand disease

Platelet-type von Willebrand disease (PT-vWD) is an autosomal dominant bleeding disorder in which patient platelets exhibit an abnormally increased binding of circulating von Willebrand factor (vWF). We have recently shown that this abnormality is associated with a point mutation resulting in substitution of Val for Gly 233 in platelet membrane glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbga), a major component of the platelet (GPIb/IX receptor for vWF. To investigate the effect of this substitution on the three-dimensional structure of this region of the protein, we have generated the allowed (low energy) conformations of the region of the GPIα protein containing residues 228–238 (with 5 residues on either side of the critical residue 233) with Gly 233 (wild type) and Val 233 (PT-vWD) using the computer program ECEPP (Empirical Conformational Energies of Peptides Program). The wild-type sequence is Tyr-Val-Trp-Lys-Gln-Gly-Val-Asp-Val-Lys-Ala. We find that the Gly 233-containing peptide can exist in two low energy conformers. The lowest energy conformer is a structure containing a β-turn at Gln 232-Gly 233 while the alternative conformation is an amphipathic helical structure. Only the amphipathic helical structure is allowed for the Val 233-containing peptide which contains a hydrophobic ‘face’ consisting of Val 229, Val 233 and Val 236 and another hydrophilic surface composed of such residues as Lys 231 and Asp 235. No such surfaces exist for the lowest energy bend conformer for the Gly 233-containing peptide, but do exist in the higher energy helical structure. The amphiphatic surfaces in the 228–238 region of the Val 233-containing GPIbα protein may associate strongly with complementary surfaces during vWF binding to the GPIb/IX receptor complex and may help explain heightened association of vWF with this receptor in PT-vWD.     

Alles fließt?

Von Willebrand factor is a central protein for normal hemostasis with diverse structural and functional domains. By binding to exposed subcellular collagen of injured vessels and to platelet receptors GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa, VWF creates a matrix for the subsequent blood coagulation process. Quantitative and qualitative defects of VWF correlate with von Willebrand disease, the most common bleeding disorder, whereas lack of its specific protease “ADAMTS13” is associated with a life‐threatening microangiopathy. The role of VWF in events like myocardial infarction or stroke is subject of current research.     

Exploration of the conformational landscape in pregnane X receptor reveals a new binding pocket

Ligand‐regulated pregnane X receptor (PXR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, plays a central role in xenobiotic metabolism. Despite its critical role in drug metabolism, PXR activation can lead to adverse drug‐drug interactions and early stage metabolism of drugs. Activated PXR can induce cancer drug resistance and enhance the onset of malignancy. Since promiscuity in ligand binding makes it difficult to develop competitive inhibitors targeting PXR ligand binding pocket (LBP), it is essential to identify allosteric sites for effective PXR antagonism. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies unravelled the existence of two different conformational states, namely “expanded” and “contracted”, in apo PXR ligand binding domain (LBD). Ligand binding events shifted this conformational equilibrium and locked the LBD in a single “ligand‐adaptable” conformational state. Ensemble‐based computational solvent mapping identified a transiently open potential small molecule binding pocket between α5 and α8 helices, named “α8 pocket”, whose opening‐closing mechanism directly correlated with the conformational shift in LBD. A virtual hit identified through structure‐based virtual screening against α8 pocket locks the pocket in its open conformation. MD simulations further revealed that the presence of small molecule at allosteric site disrupts the LBD dynamics and locks the LBD in a “tightly‐contracted” conformation. The molecular details provided here could guide new structural studies to understand PXR activation and antagonism.     

Mapping Paratope on Antithrombotic Antibody 6B4 to Epitope on Platelet Glycoprotein Ibalpha via Molecular Dynamic Simulations

Binding of platelet receptor glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) to the A1 domain of von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a critical step in both physiologic hemostasis and pathologic thrombosis, for initiating platelet adhesion to subendothelium of blood vessels at sites of vascular injury. Gain-of-function mutations in GPIbα contribute to an abnormally high-affinity binding of platelets to vWF and can lead to thrombosis, an accurate complication causing heart attack and stroke. Of various antithrombotic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting human GPIbα, 6B4 is a potent one to inhibit the interaction between GPIbα and vWF-A1 under static and flow conditions. Mapping paratope to epitope with mutagenesis experiments, a traditional route in researches of these antithrombotic mAbs, is usually expensive and time-consuming. Here, we suggested a novel computational procedure, which combines with homology modeling, rigid body docking, free and steered molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, to identify key paratope residues on 6B4 and their partners on GPIbα, with hypothesis that the stable hydrogen bonds and salt bridges are the important linkers between paratope and epitope residues. Based on a best constructed model of 6B4 bound with GPIbα, the survival ratios and rupture times of all detected hydrogen bonds and salt bridges in binding site were examined via free and steered MD simulations and regarded as indices of thermal and mechanical stabilizations of the bonds, respectively. Five principal paratope residues with their partners were predicted with their high survival ratios and/or long rupture times of involved hydrogen bonds, or with their hydrogen bond stabilization indices ranked in top 5. Exciting, the present results were in good agreement with previous mutagenesis experiment data, meaning a wide application prospect of our novel computational procedure on researches of molecular of basis of ligand-receptor interactions, various antithrombotic mAbs and other antibodies as well as theoretically design of biomolecular drugs.     

Structural Basis of Regulation of von Willebrand Factor Binding to Glycoprotein Ib

Activation by elongational flow of von Willebrand factor (VWF) is critical for primary hemostasis. Mutations causing type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD), platelet-type VWD (PT-VWD), and tensile force each increase affinity of the VWF A1 domain and platelet glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) for one another; however, the structural basis for these observations remains elusive. Directed evolution was used to discover a further gain-of-function mutation in A1 that shifts the long range disulfide bond by one residue. We solved multiple crystal structures of this mutant A1 and A1 containing two VWD mutations complexed with GPIbα containing two PT-VWD mutations. We observed a gained interaction between A1 and the central leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) of GPIbα, previously shown to be important at high shear stress, and verified its importance mutationally. These findings suggest that structural changes, including central GPIbα LRR-A1 contact, contribute to VWF affinity regulation. Among the mutant complexes, variation in contacts and poor complementarity between the GPIbα β-finger and the region of A1 harboring VWD mutations lead us to hypothesize that the structures are on a pathway to, but have not yet reached, a force-induced super high affinity state.     

Experimental indication for the existence of multiple Trp rotamers in von Willebrand Factor A3 domain

The first step in both normal haemostasis and arterial thrombosis is the interaction between collagen, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and glycoprotein Ib. The A3 domain of vWF forms the principal binding site for collagen type I and type III. Inhibition of the vWF-collagen interaction by an anti-human vWF monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 82D6A3 can be a potential way to prevent arterial thrombosis. Identification of the epitope of MoAb 82D6A3 showed recently that the consensus sequence SPWR obtained by phage display could adopt the conformation of the discontinuous epitope. Modelling showed that Trp982 in the vWF had to obtain a more solvent accessible conformation. We performed a detailed fluorescence study of Trp982 in the vWF A3. Using the method described by Hellings et al. (Biophys J 2003;85:1894-1902), we were able to identify two different low-energy Trp982 rotamers and to link them with their experimentally derived fluorescence lifetimes. Fluorescence anisotropy showed no interconversion in the nanosecond timescale between the two different rotameric states. With these experiments, we gather strong indications for the existence of an exposed rotamer conformation and a rotamer that corresponds to the one observed in the X-ray structure. These results strongly support the modeling work (Vanhoorelbeke et al., J Biol Chem 2003;278:37815-37821).