title: Generation of a minimal alpha5beta1 integrin-Fc fragment.
abstract: The tertiary structure of the integrin heterodimer is currently unknown, although several predictive models have been generated. Detailed structural studies of integrins have been consistently hampered for several reasons, including the small amounts of purified protein available, the large size and conformational flexibility of integrins, and the presence of transmembrane domains and N-linked glycosylation sites in both receptor subunits. As a first step toward obtaining crystals of an integrin receptor, we have expressed a minimized dimer. By using the Fc dimerization and mammalian cell expression system designed and optimized by Stephens et al. (Stephens, P. E., Ortlepp, S., Perkins, V. C., Robinson, M. K., and Kirby, H. (2000) Cell. Adhes. Commun. 7, 377-390), a series of recombinant soluble human alpha(5)beta(1) integrin truncations have been expressed as Fc fusion proteins. These proteins were examined for their ligand-binding properties and for their expression of anti-integrin antibody epitopes. The shortest functional alpha(5)-subunit truncation contained the N-terminal 613 residues, whereas the shortest beta(1)-subunit was a fragment containing residues 121-455. Each of these minimally truncated integrins displayed the antibody binding characteristics of alpha(5)beta(1) purified from human placenta and bound ligand with the same apparent affinity as the native receptor.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, 2.205 Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Coe
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Askari
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Humphries
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016296:Mutagenesis; D051381:Rats; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins