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DOI: 10.1160/TH03-06-0392
Critical residues for ligand binding in blade 2 of the propeller domain of the integrin αIIb subunit
Publication History
Received
23 June 2003
Accepted after revision
10 October 2003
Publication Date:
30 November 2017 (online)


Summary
Ligand binding to integrin αIIbβ3 is a key event of thrombus formation. The propeller domain of the αIIb subunit has been implicated in ligand binding. Recently, the ligand binding site of the αV propeller was determined by crystal structure analysis. However, the structural basis of ligand recognition by the αIIb propeller remains to be determined. In this study, we conducted site-directed mutagenesis of all residues located in the loops extending above blades 2 and 4 of the αIIb propeller, which are spatially close to, but distinct from, the loops that contain the binding site for an RGD ligand in the crystal structure of the αV propeller. Replacement by alanine of Q111, H112 or N114 in the loop within the blade 2 (the W2:2-3 loop in the propeller model) abolished binding of a ligand-mimetic antibody and fibrinogen to αIIbβ3 induced by different types of integrin activation including activation of αIIbβ3 by β3 cytoplasmic mutation. CHO cells stably expressing recombinant αIIbβ3 bearing Q111A, H112A or N114A mutation did not exhibit αIIbβ3mediated adhesion to fibrinogen. According to the crystal structure of αVβ3, the αV residue corresponding to αIIbN114 is exposed on the integrin surface and close to the RGD binding site. These results suggest that the Q111, H112 and N114 residues in the loop within blade 2 of the αIIb propeller are critical for ligand binding, possibly because of direct interaction with ligands or modulation of the RGD binding pocket.