title: Identification of a key integrin-binding sequence in VCAM-1 homologous to the LDV active site in fibronectin.
abstract: The integrin adhesion receptor alpha 4 beta 1 binds two ligands, the extracellular matrix glycoprotein fibronectin and the immunoglobulin superfamily member VCAM-1. Ligand-binding sites are contained with the HepII/IIICS domain of fibronectin, and within the homologous immunoglobulin domains 1 and 4 of VCAM-1. Previous studies have shown that the binding of each ligand to alpha 4 beta 1 is mutually exclusive, suggesting that they may employ similar mechanisms to bind receptor. Fibronectin contains at least three distinct peptide sequences that are active sites for alpha 4 beta 1 binding, two homologous sequences Leu-Asp-Val-Pro (LDVP) and Ile-Asp-Ala-Pro (IDAP), and a third related to Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD). Using a combination of site-directed mutagenesis and synthetic peptide approaches in conjunction with VCAM-1-dependent cell adhesion assays, we now report the identification of a key alpha 4 beta 1-binding sequence in both domains 1 and 4 of VCAM-1 as the tetrapeptide Ile-Asp-Ser-Pro (IDSP). Mutagenesis studies also suggest that an additional sequence in domain 1, KLEK, participates in receptor binding. Since IDSP is homologous to the LDVP and IDAP fibronectin peptides, this therefore provides a molecular explanation for the promiscuity of ligand binding by alpha 4 beta 1 and has implications for the design of synthetic VCAM-1 antagonists. The extrapolation of these findings to other integrin-binding immunoglobulin ligands is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: British Bio-technology Ltd, Cowley, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Newham
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dudgeon
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Needham
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brass
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Humphries
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005353:Fibronectins; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C090763:leucyl-aspartyl-valine