Fibronectin integrins interactions with

Figure 48-3. Schematic representation of fibronectin. Seven functional domains of fibronectin are represented two different types of domain for heparin, cell-binding, and fibrin are shown. The domains are composed of various combinations of three structural motifs (I, II, and III), not depicted in the figure. Also not shown is the fact that fibronectin is a dimer joined by disulfide bridges near the carboxyl terminals of the monomers. The approximate location of the RGD sequence of fibronectin, which interacts with a variety of fibronectin integrin receptors on cell surfaces, is indicated by the arrow. (Redrawn after Yamada KM Adhesive recognition sequences.

The extracellular domains of integrins interact with a variety of profeins of the extracellular matrix. These include fibronectin, fibrinogen, vifronecfin, collagen, and entacfin. Other large cell surface adhesins include laminin and osteopontin (Chapfer 8), thrombospondin, von Willebrand factor, and related proteins. These adhesins appear to depend upon the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), which binds nonco-valently to integrins, which act as cell-surface receptors. See also Chapter 12, Section C,9. 

Figure 48-4. Schematic representation of a cell interacting through various integrin receptors with collagen, fibronectin, and laminin present in the ECM. (Specific subunits are not indicated.) (Redrawn after Yamada KM Adhesive recognition sequences. J Biol Chem 1991 266 12809.)...

Figure 48-5. Schematic representation of fibronectin interacting with an integrin fibronectin receptor situated in the exterior of the plasma membrane of a cell of the ECM and of various attachment proteins interacting indirectly or directly with an actin microfilament in the cytosol. For simplicity, the attachment proteins are represented as a complex.

Integrins themselves are found on nearly all cells and mediate several physiological responses, such as cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Three families of integrins, each family with a common beta subunit in combination with distinct alpha subunits, have been recognized. The beta 1 family, also called very late lymphocyte-activation antigen or VLA, has receptors mediating extracellular matrix interactions with molecules such as collagen, laminin, and fibronectin. Naturally, platelets contain many of the receptors of the beta 1 family. 

Probably the smallest sequence known to be responsible for receptor recognition is the RGD-tripeptide, initially discovered in fibronectin [143]. However, the specificity of the interaction with different integrins, the counter receptors of RGD sequences on the cell surface, is established by the flanking sequences of the RGD motif and the conformation of the tripeptide. In other words, the presentation of the RGD sequence is important for specific recognition by individual integrins. 

Elices, M. J., Osborn, L., Takada, Y., Crouse, C., Luhowskyj, S., Hemler, M. E., and Lobb, R. R. (1990). VCAM-1 on activated endothelium interacts with the leukocyte integrin VLA-4 at a site distinct from the VLA-4/fibronectin binding site. Cell 60,577-584. 

Fibronectin is a cell-surface compound with domains that interact with many compounds, including integrins and extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen. Fibronectin expression can be stimulated by I GF-[3 and by CTGF,41 although increases in fibronectin expression can also be mediated by TGF-(3-independent means 42 We found some evidence of increased expression of fibronectin in FBC tissue, but not to the degree in which I GF-[3, CTGF, and decorin were expressed.16,17... 

In contrast, proteins vary markedly in their lateral mobility. Some proteins are nearly as mobile as lipids, whereas others are virtually immobile. For example, the photoreceptor protein rhodopsin (Section 32.3.1). a very mobile protein, has a diffusion coefficient of 0.4 pm s f The rapid movement of rhodopsin is essential for fast signaling. At the other extreme is fibronectin, a peripheral glycoprotein that interacts with the extracellular matrix. For fibronectin, D is less than 10-4 pm2 s f Fibronectin has a very low mobility because it is anchored to actin filaments on the inside of the plasma membrane through integrin, a transmembrane protein that links the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton. 

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