Person:

Adair, Brian

One-half of the integrin α-subunit Propeller domains contain and extra vWFA domain (αA domain), which mediates integrin binding to extracellular physiologic ligands via its metal-ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS). We used electron microscopy to determine the 3D structure of the αA-containing ectodomain of the leukocyte integrin CD11b/CD18 (αMβ2) in its inactive state. A well defined density for αA was observed within a bent ectodomain conformation, while the structure of the ectodomain in complex with the Fab fragment of mAb107, which binds at the MIDAS face of CD11b and stabilizes the inactive state, further revealed that αA is restricted to a relatively small range of orientations relative to the Propeller domain. Using Fab 107 as probe in fluorescent lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) revealed that αA is positioned relatively far from the membrane surface in the inactive state, and a systematic orientation search revealed that the MIDAS face would be accessible to extracellular ligand in the inactive state of the full-length cellular integrin. These studies are the first to define the 3D EM structure of an αA-containing integrin ectodomain and to position the ligand-binding face of αA domain in relation to the plasma membrane, providing new insights into current models of integrin activation.

Integrins are important therapeutic targets. However, current RGD-based anti-integrin drugs are also partial agonists, inducing conformational changes that trigger potentially fatal immune reactions and paradoxical cell adhesion. Here we describe the first crystal structure of αVβ3 bound to a physiologic ligand: the 10th type III RGD-domain of wild-type fibronectin (wtFN10), or to a high affinity mutant (hFN10) that acts as a pure antagonist. Comparison of these structures revealed a central π - π interaction between Trp1496 in the RGD-containing loop of hFN10 and Tyr122 of the β3-subunit that blocked conformational changes triggered by wtFN10, and trapped hFN10-bound αVβ3 in an inactive conformation. Removing the Trp1496 or Tyr122 side-chains, or reorienting Trp1496 away from Tyr122, converted hFN10 into a partial agonist. The findings offer new insights on the mechanism of integrin activation and a basis for design of RGD-based pure antagonists.