Structure of the platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb. Homology to the alpha subunits of the vitronectin and fibronectin membrane receptors

Characterisation of the N-linked oligosaccharides of the light chain of human glycoprotein IIb by f.a.b.-m.s

The glycosylation of the light chain (GPIIbL) of glycoprotein IIb, one of the glycoproteins constituting the receptor for fibrinogen, fibronectin, and the von Willebrand factor on platelet cell surfaces, was investigated using fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry (f.a.b.-m.s.). Complex-type N-glycans were observed, attached to Asn-60. The most abundant oligosaccharide is a disialylated biantennary structure substituted with fucose on the chitobiose core. Mono-sialylated biantennary, and di- and tri-sialylated triantennary structures were found as minor constituents of the N-glycan population. The amino acid sequence of GPIIbL was fully mapped by f.a.b.-m.s., thereby providing the first direct evidence for the absence of O-glycosylation.

Molecular genetic aspects of human platelet antigen systems

Recent advances in molecular and cellular biology have made it possible to build upon previous serological and biochemical studies of human platelet alloantigen systems in important and exciting ways. In addition to providing a detailed basic understanding of the polymorphisms that are responsible for eliciting an alloimmune response, the molecular characterization of platelet membrane glycoprotein polymorphisms is expected to have an increasingly large clinical impact. As the molecular basis of the remaining platelet antigen systems becomes known, our ability to design novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the care and management of patients with PTP and NATP should improve.

The lipoxygenase metabolite 12(S)-HETE induces a cytoskeleton-dependent increase in surface expression of integrin alpha IIb beta 3 on melanoma cells

Integrin receptors are mediators of cell-extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions. Biochemical and immunocytochemical evidence shows that the platelet integrin receptor alpha IIb beta 3 is present on the cell surface, at focal adhesion plaques and in the perinuclear region of metastatic B16a murine melanoma cells. Antibody to the fibronectin receptor alpha 5 beta i, inhibits basal adhesion by approx. 30%, whereas antibodies to alpha IIb beta 3 are ineffective. The surface immunoreactivity of tumor cells for alpha IIb beta 3 can be enhanced by pre-treatment (5 min) with a lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid [i.e. 12-(S)-HETE] in a dose-dependent manner (max. effect approx. 0.1 microM). Other lipoxygenase metabolites are ineffective. B16a cells possess a large intracellular pool of alpha IIb beta 3, from which the receptor complex translocates to the cell surface following 12-(S)-HETE pretreatment. This pre-treatment of tumor cells enhances their adhesion to fibronectin, which is mediated exclusively by alpha IIb beta 3 receptors. 12-(S)-HETE also facilitates the redistribution of alpha IIb beta 3 in the plasma membrane with localization at the focal adhesion plaques. The cytoskeleton of the B16a cell is characterized by an absence of distinct microtubules in interphase cells and the presence of prominent microfilaments and vimentin intermediate filaments. In B16a cells, the disruption of intermediate filaments and/or microfilaments prevents the 12-(S)-HETE-induced increase in plasma membrane alpha IIb beta 3 and enhanced tumor-cell adhesion to fibronectin. The microtubule-disrupting agent, colchicine, is ineffective in both respects. We conclude that the lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid, 12-(S)-HETE, regulates the surface expression and function of the alpha IIb beta 3 integrin in B16a cells. Further, these data support the hypothesis that microfilaments and intermediate filaments have a profound role in regulating the expression of a multifunctional integrin in B16a tumor cells.

Activation of the fibrinogen receptor on human platelets exposed to alpha chymotrypsin. Relationship with a major proteolytic cleavage at the carboxyterminus of the membrane glycoprotein IIb heavy chain

The serine proteinase alpha chymotrypsin from bovine pancreas (CT) is known to expose fibrinogen binding sites on the surface of human platelets in the absence of cell activation and granular secretion. This is accompanied by the appearance of membrane-bound chymotryptic fragments of both glycoprotein (GP) IIb and GPIIIa, the two subunits of the platelet fibrinogen receptor, the GPIIb-IIIa complex. However, no clear relationship between discrete proteolytic event(s) within GPIIb-IIIa and fibrinogen-binding-site expression has yet been established. We have now evaluated the proteolysis of GPIIb-IIIa by CT by Western blot analyses using a panel of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against GPIIb or GPIIIa. The different proteolytic events were then correlated with the kinetics of the expression of active fibrinogen binding sites on platelets, as measured through the binding of 125I-labelled purified fibrinogen and to the capacity of CT-treated platelets to aggregate. Treatment of platelets with CT at 22 degrees C resulted in the expression of fibrinogen binding sites prior to cleavage of GPIIIa (Mr approximately 90,000) into a previously described, major membrane-bound fragment with Mr 60,000. In contrast, fibrinogen receptor expression closely paralleled a proteolytic cleavage at the carboxy terminus of the GPIIb heavy chain (Mr approximately 120,000), which was converted into a faster migrating species with Mr approximately 115,000). This proteolysis resulted in the release of a soluble peptide with an expected molecular mass of less than 3.7 kDa. Quantitation of this peptide using a competitive immunoenzymatic assay, confirmed that its release from the platelet surface correlated with the expression of fibrinogen binding sites and aggregability. When platelets were exposed to CT at 37 degrees C, a prompt increase in fibrinogen binding sites and platelet aggregability was observed, whereas the GPIIb heavy chain was rapidly converted into the carboxy-terminal-cleaved form. However, incubation at 37 degrees C for longer than 10 min resulted in extensive and simultaneous degradation of both the GPIIb heavy and light chains and of GPIIIa, with the latter being converted into the 60-kDa fragment. These later events were associated with a sharp decline of platelet aggregability and a reduction in the number of fibrinogen binding sites. These data allow us to propose that an early and limited proteolytic processing of the GPIIb component of the platelet fibrinogen receptor is associated with a shift of this receptor complex into a state which expresses specific binding sites for fibrinogen. Further cleavage of GPIIIa to generate the 60-kDa fragment results in loss of receptor activity.

Detection of fibronectin receptor in sera: its clinical significance as a parameter of hepatic fibrosis

Pooled sera collected from cirrhotic patients was fractionated by affinity chromatography with a fibronectin receptor monoclonal antibody against the beta-subunit of fibronectin receptor. Eluates were assayed using Western immunoblotting. The relative mobility of the protein reactive with fibronectin receptor antibody was nearly identical to that of the beta-subunit of fibronectin receptor, confirming that fibronectin receptor is present in human serum. Serum levels of the beta-subunit of fibronectin receptor were analyzed by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients with various liver diseases. The serum level of fibronectin receptor (micrograms/ml) was significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis (inactive, 2.59 +/- 0.04; active, 3.45 +/- 0.13), cirrhosis (4.77 +/- 0.30), alcoholic liver disease (2.96 +/- 0.16) and hepatocellular carcinoma (4.71 +/- 0.49) than in normal subjects (2.11 +/- 0.08). Strong positive correlation was observed between serum levels of fibronectin receptor and histological findings, particularly in the degree of hepatic fibrosis. Immunohistochemical studies with fibronectin receptor antibody revealed that the beta-subunit of fibronectin receptor was present on the plasma membrane of hepatocytes and sinusoidal lining cells in the normal liver and was increased in fibrotic areas and on the plasma membrane of hepatocytes and sinusoidal lining cells of fibrotic liver. The serum level of fibronectin receptor in patients with chronic liver diseases may therefore be a useful marker of hepatic fibrosis.

Molecular cloning of the human alpha 6 integrin subunit. Alternative splicing of alpha 6 mRNA and chromosomal localization of the alpha 6 and beta 4 genes

We have isolated cDNAs encoding the alpha 6 subunit from a lambda gt11 expression library from human keratinocytes by combined screening with a rabbit polyclonal anti-alpha 6 antibody and the polymerase chain reaction. The alpha 6 subunit encoded by this cDNA consists of 1050 amino acids with a 991-amino-acid extracellular, a 23-amino-acid transmembrane and a 36-amino-acid cytoplasmic domain. The extracellular domain contains three putative divalent cation-binding sites and nine potential N-linked glycosylation sites. From a cDNA library from normal human mammary gland cells two different cDNAs for alpha 6 were isolated, one of which is identical to the above cDNA. The two alpha 6 subunits, called alpha 6A and alpha 6B, encoded by the two cDNAs each have a unique cytoplasmic domain, that of alpha 6B being 18 amino acids longer than that of alpha 6A. Different carcinoma cell lines contain transcripts for both alpha 6 subunits. K562 leukemic cells have little alpha 6A or alpha 6B mRNAs. The overall level of expression varies in the carcinoma cell lines, but reflects alpha 6 cell surface expression. In A375 melanoma cells, however, cell surface expression of alpha 6 was low in spite of a high level of mRNA. This suggest that other mechanisms may be involved in regulating the expression of alpha 6 on the surface of these cells. The mRNA for both alpha 6 subunits is around 6 kb. The alpha 6 subunits are similar to other alpha subunits (26-31% identity with cleaved alpha subunits) of the integrin family but they are more similar to the alpha 3 subunit (40% identity). This high degree of similarity may be the basis for their functional resemblance since both alpha 3 and alpha 6 subunits, when associated with beta 1, function as laminin receptors and bind to the long arm of laminin. The genes for alpha 6 and beta 4, the alternative beta subunit with which alpha 6 combines on certain epithelial cells, were mapped to chromosome 2 and 17q11-qter, respectively.

Human monoclonal autoantibody 2E7 is specific for a peptide sequence of platelet glycoprotein IIb. Localization of the epitope to IIb231-238 with an immunodominant Trp235

2E7 is a human monoclonal IgM autoantibody that binds to a site on the heavy chain of the human platelet integrin alpha subunit glycoprotein IIb. The epitope recognized by 2E7 is stable to denaturation with sodium dodecyl sulfate and reduction of disulfide bonds but is destroyed by proteolysis with papain, chymotrypsin or elastase. By evaluating the reaction of 2E7 with a number of protein sequences from the IIb heavy chain, we have determined that the epitope is located in the octapeptide Phe-Asp-Gly-Tyr-Trp-Gly-Tyr-Ser (FDGYWGYS), corresponding to residues 231-238, and that substitution of the Trp at position 235 completely destroys the epitope. This represents the first precise localization of an epitope on the human platelet integrin IIb-IIIa or on any platelet membrane glycoprotein that is recognized by a human autoantibody.

Quantitative isolation of RNA from human platelets

We have adapted the acid-guanidinium-phenol-chloroform extraction procedure of Chomczinsky and Sacchi to achieve efficient rapid recovery of total RNA from human platelets. Sufficient platelet RNA (20 micrograms of total RNA per 30 ml of whole blood) can be recovered from relatively small individual samples to perform Northern blot analysis on individual donors and detect the mRNAs for glycoproteins IIb1(GP IIb) and IIIa1(GP IIIa), 3.4 kb and 6.2 kb, respectively. Platelet GP IIb and GP IIIa mRNAs could also be reverse transcribed, and amplified in vitro by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thus, our technique allows simultaneous Northern blotting and PCR, and therefore should be of great help to the characterization of inherited platelet disorders such as Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

Primary structure and functional activity of a phosphatidylinositol-glycan-specific phospholipase D

A phosphatidylinositol-glycan-specific phospholipase D (PI-G PLD) that specifically hydrolyzes the inositol phosphate linkage in proteins anchored by phosphatidylinositol-glycans (PI-Gs) has recently been purified from human and bovine sera. The primary structure of bovine PI-G PLD has now been determined and the functional activity of the enzyme has been studied. Expression of PI-G PLD complementary DNA in COS cells produced a protein that specifically hydrolyzed the inositol phosphate linkage of the PI-G anchor. Cotransfection of PI-G PLD with a PI-G-anchored protein resulted in the secretion of the PI-G-anchored protein. The results suggest that the expression of PI-G PLD may influence the expression and location of PI-G-anchored proteins.

A discrete sequence in a platelet integrin is involved in ligand recognition

Platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (gpIIb-IIIa; alpha IIb-beta 3), the most prominent member of the integrin family of adhesion receptors on these cells, mediates platelet aggregation by binding fibrinogen and is critical in thrombosis and haemostasis. A short amino-acid sequence at the carboxy terminus of the gamma chain of fibrinogen is recognized by gpIIb-IIIa and peptides containing this sequence are selectively crosslinked to residues 294-314 of gpIIb. Here we show that an 11-residue peptide from this region of gpIIb inhibits platelet aggregation and binding of fibrinogen to platelets and to purified gpIIb-IIIa, and that it interacts directly with fibrinogen. These results implicate this segment of gpIIb-IIIa in the ligand-binding function of the receptor. Moreover, as this region is highly conserved among integrins, it may have a general function in ligand recognition by this broadly distributed family of adhesion receptors.

Vitronectin and proliferative intraocular disorders. II. Expression of cell surface receptors for fibronectin and vitronectin in periretinal membranes

Several cell types participate in the formation of vitreoretinal traction membranes in proliferative intraocular disorders. The communication between these cells involves hormones, growth factors, and the interaction with extracellular matrix molecules. We have previously demonstrated a partial colocalisation of two potent mediators of cell attachment, fibronectin and vitronectin, in periretinal membranes from patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). We found a similar pattern of vitronectin and fibronectin deposition in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (n = 6). Now we show the expression of the corresponding cell surface receptors, integrins, for fibronectin and vitronectin by proliferating cells in 22 periretinal membranes, including traumatic (n = 8) and idiopathic (n = 8) PVR as well as PDR membranes (n = 6). Integrins are membrane receptors for extracellular matrix macromolecules which are involved in such basic biological phenomena as embryogenesis and metastasis. Future studies on the pathogenesis of vitreoretinal proliferation will have to focus on the initiation, maintenance, and regulation of this intercellular communication network involving attachment proteins and integrins.

Platelet factor 4 mRNA expression in cells from a patient with megakaryoblastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia

A 61-year-old man with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia developed megakaryoblastic leukemia. In the blast phase, his blast cells showed undifferentiated megakaryoblastic characteristics with no alpha-granules or demarcation membranes but with detectable platelet peroxidase (PPO) activity and surface glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa. The patient has remained reasonably well for at least 12 months after blastic crisis, and 6-mercaptopurine alone has been effective in controlling leukocytosis and megakaryoblast proliferation. The expression of mRNA for platelet-specific proteins, such as GPIIb and platelet factor 4 (PF4), was studied in the patient's blast cells by the Northern blot analysis. Both GPIIb and PF4 mRNA were detected in the blast cells. Cytoplasmic maturation occurs later than the synthesis of the surface GP during megakaryocyte maturation. Therefore, PF4 mRNA expression should be a marker of mature megakaryoblasts. The PF4 mRNA expression in megakaryoblastic leukemia may indicate that a patient will have long survival and a good response to chemotherapy.

The Molecular Genetics of Platelet Membrane Proteins and their Inherited Disorders

The platelet membrane glycoproteins fulfil a vital function in platelet adhesion and aggrkgation. The advent of recombinant DNA technology has provided a wealth of new information on the sequence, structure, expression and chromosomal location of the genes encoding these proteins and Is now permitting the detailed molecular genetic analysis of both Bernard Soulier syndrome and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

The amino acid sequence Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu appears to be a fibrinogen binding site in the platelet integrin, glycoprotein IIb

The amino acid sequence Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu-Arg-Val is predicted by the anticomplementarity hypothesis to be a fibrinogen binding site on human platelet fibrinogen receptors. The peptide Ala-Pro-Leu-Arg-Val binds fibrinogen and inhibits platelet aggregation and clot retraction. The peptide Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu is the shortest sequence within the predicted sequence which potently inhibits the adhesion of platelets to fibrinogen and platelet aggregation. The sequence Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu is present as residues 309-312 in glycoprotein IIb, the alpha-subunit of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex, the fibrinogen receptor. The sequence Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu is present in 4 of 8 integrin alpha-subunits and Gly-Ala-Pro is present in 8 of 8 integrin alpha-subunits.

Characterization of the beta-chain N-terminus heterogeneity and the alpha-chain C-terminus of human platelet GPIIb. Posttranslational cleavage sites

Human platelet glycoprotein IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa) form a Ca2(+)-dependent heterodimer, the integrin GPIIb/IIIa, which functions as the fibrinogen receptor at the surface of activated platelets. GPIIB and GPIIIa are synthesized as single polypeptides from single messages and their amino acid sequences were derived from their cDNAs. The GPIIb precursor is proteolytically processed to yield the known disulphide-bonded two-chain (GPIIb alpha and GPIIb beta) covalent structure found in mature GPIIb. Our present protein chemical and mass spectrometric analyses indicate that the GPIIb precursor is proteolytically cleaved at two or three sites, to give rise to an homogeneous alpha-chain (GPIIb 1-856) single disulphide-bonded to one of the two beta-chains, which are present in a nearly 1:1 ratio: GPIIb beta 1 (860-1008), with pyroglutamic acid as its blocked N-terminal residue: and GPIIb beta 2 (872-1008), with the already known N-terminal sequence. These results satisfy the previously observed electrophoretic size-residue: and GPIIb beta 2 (872-1008), with the already known N-terminal sequence. These results satisfy the previously observed electrophoretic size-heterogeneity of the beta-chain, confirmed the potential cleavage sites in the junction region, and indicate a probable dual proteolytic processing of GPIIb, which may be relevant to the rest of the two-chain alpha-subunits of the integrin family.

A beta 3 integrin mutation abolishes ligand binding and alters divalent cation-dependent conformation

The ligand-binding function of integrin adhesion receptors depends on divalent cations. A mutant alpha IIb beta 3 integrin (platelet gpIIb/IIIa) that lacks ligand recognition shows immunologic evidence of a perturbed interaction with divalent cations. This was found to be caused by a G----T mutation that resulted in an Asp119----Tyr119 substitution in the beta 3 subunit. This residue is proximal to bound ligand and is in a conserved region among integrins that are enriched in oxygenated residues. The spacing of these residues aligns with the calcium-binding residues in EF hand proteins, suggesting interaction with receptor-bound divalent cation as a mechanism of ligand binding common to all integrins.

Inhibition of fibrin(ogen) binding to stimulated platelets by a monoclonal antibody specific for a conformational determinant of GPIIIa

We have purified the integrin GPIIb:IIIa from the membrane fraction of human blood platelets by lentil lectin affinity chromatography followed by gel filtration chromatography. With purified GPIIb:IIIa as an antigen, we have produced monoclonal antibody CS-1, which immunoblotting demonstrates to be specific for native GPIIIa; disulfide bond reduction of GPIIIa resulted in loss of immunoreactivity. Radiolabelled ligand binding studies revealed that CS-1 recognized approximately 55,000 sites per platelet and bound with a Kd in the nanomolar range, independent of the state of platelet activation. Binding of CS-1 or its Fab fragment to ADP- and thrombin-stimulated gel filtered platelets caused a 2-3 fold inhibition of binding the soluble ligands fibrinogen and fibrin protofibrils. CS-1 also inhibited aggregation of ADP- and thrombin-stimulated platelets by 2- and 4-fold, respectively. Since CS-1 inhibits fibrin(ogen) interactions with GPIIb:IIIa, we propose that the conformationally dependent epitope on GPIIIa recognized by CS-1 constitutes a region of the receptor which is involved in fibrin(ogen) binding.

Elegantin and albolabrin purified peptides from viper venoms: homologies with the RGDS domain of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor

The RGD-containing peptides isolated from the venoms of the Viperidae constitute a new class of small cysteine-rich peptides of variable amino acid composition and biological activity (Huang, T.-F., et al. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 16157-16163; Gan, Z.R., et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem 263, 19827-19832; Huang, T.-F., et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 661-668), which it is proposed by Gould et al. (unpublished data) that we call 'disintegrins'. These peptides bind to the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor on the platelet surface and inhibit aggregation induced by ADP, thrombin, platelet-activating factor and collagen. These peptides are also potent inhibitors of cell adhesion to fibrinogen (Knudsen, K.M., et al. (1988) Exp. Cell Res. 179, 42-49). We report the isolation of two further RGD-peptides from the venoms of Trimeserusus elegans and Trimeserusus albolabris, purified to homogeneity with high yield by a novel, rapid reverse-phase HPLC method. The primary structures of these two peptides were determined to be single polypeptide chains of 73 amino acids. Albolabrin differed from trigramin by eight residues whilst elegantin differed by 22 residues. The molecular mass of albolabrin calculated on the basis of amino acid sequence was 7574 Da and the pI similarly calculated was 4.27. The molecular mass of elegantin was calculated to be 7806 Da and the theoretical pI to be 4.69. RGD is maintained in the same position (51-53 AA) and all 12 cysteines are identical. Our data suggest that the presence of RGD, the conserved secondary and tertiary structure, are essential for the expression of biological activity by these peptides. Both peptides inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Extended homologies around the RGDS sequences in human von Willebrand Factor and bovine fibrinogen were found with both peptides.

Organization of the gene for platelet glycoprotein IIb

The glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa heterodimer functions as a receptor for fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and fibronectin on activated platelets; it is dysfunctional in the bleeding diathesis Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. This receptor is a member of the integrin family, which includes homologous membrane receptors involved in a number of different cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesive interactions. Knowledge of the sequence and organization of the GPIIb and GPIIIa genes will help in understanding evolutionary relationships and functional homologies of this family of adhesion protein receptors and will facilitate analysis of molecular defects responsible for thrombasthenia. Using the GPIIb cDNA as a probe, we have isolated overlapping genomic clones encompassing the entire coding region, the 5'- and 3'-untranslated sequences, and the immediate flanking regions for the GPIIb gene. The gene spans approximately 17.2 kilobases (kb); all but approximately 2.6 kb of intronic DNA sequence has been determined. The GPIIb gene contains 30 exons whose demarcations do not correlate with previously suggested functional domains. Two intron/exon borders have the rare GC splice donor sequence instead of the consensus GT sequence. There are at least seven complete and three partial AluI sequence repeats within the intron sequences. RNase protection, S1 nuclease analysis, and primer extension studies using human erythroleukemia (HEL) cell RNA and platelet RNA map a major transcription start site 32 base pairs (bp) 5' to the beginning of the coding region; however, there are no canonical consensus TATA or CAAT boxes in the region immediately 5' to the proposed cap site. The immediate 5'-flanking sequence of rodent GPIIb demonstrates complete identity near the proposed cap site with its human counterpart, but again, no TATA or CAAT boxes are apparent.

The leukocyte cell surface receptor(s) for the iC3b product of complement

CR3 is probably the major adhesion molecule on monocytes and neutrophils. Its function as a phagocytic receptor for iC3b-coated particles has been well characterized. CR3 also has binding affinity for other ligands, including those that compete with iC3b such as fibrinogen, factor X, and beta-glucan, and those that do not such as bacterial LPS. CR3 binding to endothelial cells probably plays an important role in the extravascular migration of monocytes and neutrophils, but the ligand that it recognizes on endothelial cells has not been identified. Structurally CR3 belongs to the integrin family, and it shares a common subunit with p150,95 and LFA-1. The expression of these three membrane antigens appear to be limited to leukocytes, and they are sometimes referred to collectively as the leukocyte integrins. All three antigens have a common binding affinity for bacterial LPS. p150,95 also has affinity for iC3b, but p150,95/iC3b-dependent cellular responses has not been demonstrated. Its status as a complement receptor therefore awaits further experimental support.

Developmentally regulated alternative splicing of Drosophila integrin PS2 alpha transcripts

We report the characterization of a chromosomal integrin gene that encodes the Drosophila PS2 alpha subunit. The gene is composed of 12 exons spanning 31 kb. By employing a novel method for directed cDNA cloning, we have analyzed over 300 independent cDNA clones for the existence of alternate RNA products. Two forms of PS2 alpha mRNA are frequently observed: a canonical (C) form and a form lacking the 75 nucleotide exon 8 (m8). The relative ratio of these two forms varies widely during development. Although region A, derived from exon 8 and the adjacent 25 amino acids, shows weak conservation among the sequences of alpha subunits that bind to different ligands, it is highly conserved in the homologous PS2 alpha gene of the distantly related Mediterranean fruitfly. We suggest that the variable region A may be important in determining the specificity and affinity of integrin receptors for their ligands.

The involvement of the cell matrix receptors, or VLA integrins, in the morphogenetic behavior of normal and malignant cells is gradually being uncovered

The VLA-Integrins are members of a family of cell surface receptors that recognize Arg-Gly-Asp containing ligands and that allow cells to bind extracellular matrix molecules such as fibronectin, laminin, and collagens. These interactions reorganize the topographic distribution of the receptors at the cell surface and are relayed to the cytoplasm and even to the cell nucleus. Coordinated organization of the intracellular cytoskeleton, cell spreading on the matrix, and movement of the cells along concentration gradients of these matrix molecules are the result of these interactions. Evidence exists that the migration of embryonic cells, platelet activation on endothelial defects, and the invasion of fibroblasts, lymphoid cells, and epithelial cells during wound healing are facilitated by Integrin-matrix interactions. Moreover, deficiency in the synthesis of a particular Integrin subunit or the inappropriate expression of one or a few members of this family might contribute fundamentally to invasion and metastasis of malignant cells. Although extensive information is available on the structure of the common beta 1 subunit and on the function of the fibronectin receptor, in particular, the other five members of the very late antigen family, their respective alpha subunits and their function as cell surface receptors remain poorly understood. The rationale for having at least six different receptors on some cells, how they might collaborate, and to what end remains unknown. Finally, the interaction of these cell surface receptors and the modulation of their affinity for their ligand by other cell surface or extracellular matrix components such as heparan sulfate, gangliosides a.o. have been barely touched upon. It can be predicted that these molecules and their interaction with the extracellular matrix will provide a key to the understanding of many normal and malignant morphogenetic cellular properties.