title: Beta 1 integrin subunit dimerization via disulfide bonds.
abstract: Integrins of the beta 1 family were isolated from human smooth muscle. SDS-PAGE analysis and subsequent immunoblotting demonstrated that integrin samples contain a protein immunologically related to beta 1 integrin subunit with the previously undescribed apparent molecular mass 205 kD. One-dimensional peptide mapping showed that the 205 kD protein is not a novel beta 1 related integrin subunit, but a beta 1 integrin subunit dimer. After reduction the major part of the beta 1 immunoreactive material migrated from the 205 kD to 130 kD region, indicating that beta 1 integrin subunit dimers were formed via disulfide bonds. When electrophoretically pure beta 1 monomer and dimer forms were analized it was found that during SDS-PAGE about 30% of beta 1 integrin subunit monomers were organized into dimers while approximately 70% of the beta 1 dimer form was partly disrupted into monomers. It was suggested that this steady-state process is a result of a reversible reaction between intra- and intermolecular disulfide bonds. Possible in vivo dimerization of integrins via disulfide bonds is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Belkin
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Kozlova
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Bychkova
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Shekhonin
mesh_terms: D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D004220:Disulfides / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D019012:Integrin beta1