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The human integrin glycoprotein (GP)IIb/IIIa plays a central role in haemostasis as an inducible receptor for fibrinogen and other RGD-containing adhesive proteins at the platelet plasma membrane. Expression of the fibrinogen receptor on platelet activation involves conformational changes in the quaternary structure of GPIIb/IIIa. Little is known, however, about the nature of this conformational transition. Given that isolated GPIIb/IIIa contains a mixture of RGD-binding and non-RGD-binding heterodimers, we used limited proteolysis as a tool for investigating the structural differences between the two conformers. Comparison of their fragmentation patterns shows that, whereas in the non-RGD-binding form of GPIIb/IIIa the N-terminal half of the heavy chain of GPIIb (GPIIbH) and the central region of GPIIIa are cleaved by endoproteinase Arg-C, these domains associate tightly with one another in the RGD-binding GPIIb/IIIa and are thus protected from proteolysis. In addition, the C-terminal half of GPIIb becomes more susceptible to degradation in the non-RGD-binding GPIIb/IIIa conformer. Our interpretation, in the context of available structural and functional data, is that a major relative reorientation of the GPIIbH and GPIIIa extracellular domains takes place along the subunit interface during the conformational transition of the platelet integrin.

The major platelet integrin, glycoprotein IIb-IIIa, binds soluble fibrinogen only after platelet activation. To investigate the mechanism by which platelets convert glycoprotein IIb-IIIa into a functional fibrinogen receptor, we characterized the opening and closing of fibrinogen-binding sites in isolated platelet membranes and compared the regulatory properties of membrane-bound glycoprotein IIb-IIIa with those of the detergent-solubilized receptor. Basal fibrinogen binding to the membranes possessed many of the properties of fibrinogen binding to activated platelets; however, less than 10% of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa in the membranes was capable of binding fibrinogen. Preincubating the membranes with either an activating glycoprotein IIb-IIIa antibody or alpha-chymotrypsin increased fibrinogen binding. In contrast, agents that require intracellular mediators, such as platelet agonists, guanine-nucleotide-binding-protein activators and purified protein kinase C, did not stimulate fibrinogen binding to the membranes, suggesting that cytosolic factor(s) may be required for activation of the receptor in platelets. Occupancy of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa in the membranes with RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp)-containing peptides reversibly exposed neoantigenic epitopes and fibrinogen-binding sites in the receptor. These conformational changes required membrane fixation to be maintained following peptide removal. Similar results were obtained with purified glycoprotein IIb-IIIa incorporated into phospholipid vesicles, indicating that the resting state of the receptor is favoured in these environments. In contrast, when the conformation of detergent-solubilized glycoprotein IIb-IIIa was altered by exposure to RGD-containing peptides, the receptor remained active even after incorporation into phospholipid vesicles. These results demonstrate that platelet membranes are a useful model in which to study the regulation of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa and suggest that the environment surrounding the receptor may have a profound influence on this process.

The present study was designed to examine the interaction of the purified platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex (GP IIb-IIIa or integrin alpha IIb beta 3) and the individual subunits of the complex with immobilized fibrinogen. Although 125I-GP IIb-IIIa binding to fibrinogen immobilized on Sepharose was specific, this interaction exhibited properties distinct from those of reversible fibrinogen binding to platelets: 125I-GP IIb-IIIa binding appeared irreversible, but non-covalent, Ca(2+)-independent, and was inhibited only weakly, or not at all, by the anti-(GP IIb-IIIa) monoclonal antibodies 10E5 and 7E3 and synthetic peptides from known platelet-binding domains of fibrinogen. Reversibly dissociated GP IIb or GP IIIa subunits inhibited 125I-GP IIb-IIIa binding to immobilized fibrinogen and bound directly to the fibrinogen. However, these subunits did not bind to peptides derived from known platelet-binding domains within the fibrinogen alpha- and gamma-chains, although the GP IIb-IIIa complex did. These results show that the complexed form of full-length GP IIb and GP IIIa is required for binding to these synthetic peptides, but not necessarily for binding to immobilized fibrinogen. Thus GP IIb-IIIa can bind to immobilized fibrinogen by a distinct mechanism that appears to involve novel binding sites on each subunit of the GP IIb-IIIa complex and on fibrinogen.

The heterodimeric vitronectin receptor (VNR) and platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) are two members of the integrin family of cell adhesion receptors that share the same beta subunit (GPIIIa). These proteins are involved in binding to vitronectin, fibrinogen and fibronectin and in cytoskeleton-membrane interactions. The present study shows that the human placental syncytiotrophoblast brush border membrane contains a heterodimer of subunit Mr values of 140,000 and 90,000 (non-reduced) or 125,000 and 100,000 (reduced). This protein was recognized by a monoclonal antibody to GPIIIa, rabbit antisera to the VNR and a human alloantiserum to GPIIIa. Brush border VNR-related protein bound to an immobilized peptide containing the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence and, less avidly, to immobilized fibrinogen. Only a small fraction of brush border VNR was associated with a cytoskeleton fraction. Membrane-bound brush border GPIIIa was distinct from that of platelets in its resistance to digestion by trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and had a slightly lower mobility on SDS/PAGE. In addition, lectin-binding studies indicate glycosylation differences between microvillar and platelet GPIIIa heterodimers. Thus, although placental syncytiotrophoblast expresses a beta 3 integrin in its apical brush border, differences in protease sensitivity and carbohydrate content suggest that it may lack or mask certain antigenic determinants. This may be beneficial in avoiding harmful maternal alloantibody responses during pregnancy. Immunohistology showed that the VNR was present in syncytiotrophoblast apical but not basal plasma membranes, and was absent from other forms of trophoblast. The brush border VNR could function in localizing Arg-Gly-Asp-sequence-containing plasma proteins to the materno-trophoblastic interface.

A large number of membrane glycoproteins (around 40) are present on the surface of human blood platelets. Some of these glycoproteins are expressed in relatively small amounts, and their functions, as well as their structure, remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to separate rapidly, under non-denaturing conditions, and characterize minor glycoproteins such as Very Late Antigens (VLA) (GPIa, GPIc, GPIc* and GPIIa) and GMP-140 (also known as PADGEM). VLAs and GMP-140 are respectively members of the integrin and selectin families. Platelet membrane glycoproteins were separated by wheat-germ agglutinin lectin affinity and Mono Q anion-exchange f.p.l.c. Peaks bearing isolated glycoproteins were electrophoresed on one- or two-dimensional SDS/polyacrylamide gels, Western blotted on to Immobilon poly(vinylidene difluoride) membranes and gas-phase-sequenced. The identity of isolated glycoproteins was also obtained by the use of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies and tryptic peptide maps. Five minor [GPIa, GPIc, GPIc*, GPIIa and GMP 140 (PADGEM)], as well as a major (GPIIIb) glycoprotein, were eluted at low salt concentrations. GPIIb-IIIa and GPIb were eluted at high salt concentrations. The N-terminal sequence of platelet GPIa was identical with that obtained by Takada & Hemler [(1989) J. Cell Biol. 109, 397-407]. However, the N-terminal sequence of platelet GPIc + Ic* and GPIIa were found to differ from those deduced from cDNA sequences isolated from human placenta or umbilical-vein endothelial-cell cDNA libraries. The combined use of f.p.l.c. and gas-phase sequencing techniques provides a very powerful tool to separate and characterize rapidly platelet or other cellular proteins for structural, immunological and functional studies.

We have obtained evidence that the ligand-recognition region of the integrin beta-subunit, platelet glycoprotein IIIa (GPIIIa), is discontinuous. Receptor function can be localized to residues near the N-terminus and to the central region of the polypeptide chain. The epitope recognized by our monoclonal antibody, CS-1, which substantially inhibits fibrin(ogen) binding to ADP- and thrombin-stimulated platelets [Ramsamooj, Doellgast & Hantgan (1990) Thromb. Res. 58, 577-592], is contained within residues 349-422 of GPIIIa. This sequence is adjacent to a proteinase-resistant domain of GPIIIa which is linked by disulphide bond(s) to an N-terminal segment near to the putative Arg-Gly-Asp recognition site [D'Souza, Ginsberg, Burke, Lam & Plow (1988) Science 242, 91-93]. Limited trypsin digestion of purified platelet GPIIIa yielded a mixture of two-chain molecules comprised of an N-terminal fragment disulphide-bonded to one of four fragments, which began at residues 299, 303, 353 or 423. Tryptic cleavage of the 300-422 segment correlated with loss of immunoreactivity with anti-GPIIIa monoclonal antibody, CS-1. Chymotrypsin cleavage of GPIIIa resulted in an N-terminal 19 kDa fragment joined by at least one intrachain cystine residue to a 46 kDa polypeptide beginning at residue 349. Partial reduction with dithiothreitol released the larger chymotryptic fragment with its epitope for CS-1 intact. These results have enabled us to localize the epitope recognized by our inhibitory monoclonal antibody, CS-1, to residues 349-422 of GPIIIa. Our data are consistent with a structure in which both the N-terminal and central regions of GPIIIa, which may be in close proximity in the functional GPIIb-IIIa complex, participate in ligand binding.

We describe a new procedure for isolation of glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa) from human platelet plasma membrane with high yields (2.7 mg of GPIIb and 3.3 mg of GPIIIa per 100 mg of starting platelet membrane proteins), equivalent to a recovery of 35% and 55% respectively of the total GPIIb and GPIIIa of the membrane. The procedure involves Triton X-100 differential extraction of platelet membranes, SDS solubilization of the 4%-Triton X-100 supernatant, zonal centrifugation in a sucrose density gradient, and preparative high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. The weight percentage of sugar is 15.7% for GPIIb and 12.5% for GPIIIa. Neuraminic acid is present in both glycoproteins, representing 30% and 15% respectively of the total sugar weight of GPIIb and GPIIIa. Mannose, galactose and glucosamine account for 45%, 13% and 28% respectively of the sugars of GPIIIa, whereas galactosamine was not detected. Mannose, galactose, glucosamine and galactosamine represent 17%, 21%, 24% and 10% respectively of the sugar content of GPIIb. The molar percentages of half-cystine and methionine are 4-fold and 2-fold higher respectively in GPIIIa than in GPIIb. From the amino acid and sugar compositions we confirmed the acidic nature of both glycoproteins. The Mr values obtained, 136,500 for GPIIb and 91,500 for GPIIIa, are in very good agreement with those obtained by physical methods. The apparent lack of free thiol groups in both glycoproteins indicates that the tertiary structure of GPIIIa is maintained by 21 intrachain disulphide bonds, and that there are eight intrachain and interchain disulphide groups in GPIIb.

Glycoprotein IIb (GPIIb), one of the two molecular components of the inducible receptor for fibrinogen on the platelet surface, is formed from two subunits, GPIIb alpha (114 kDa) and GPIIb beta (22.5 kDa), joined by a single disulphide bond. CNBr cleavage of GPIIb, together with tryptic or endoproteinase Lys-C digestion of some of the isolated CNBr peptides, followed by amino acid and N-terminal sequence analysis of the isolated fragments, allowed us to locate unambiguously all the unknown disulphide bonds and the N-glycosylation points in platelet GPIIb. It could be established that each cysteine residue in GPIIb, beginning at alpha-Cys-56, is disulphide-bonded to its nearest neighbour in the amino acid sequence. Given the extensive structural similarity among the two-chain alpha-subunits of Arg-Gly-Asp adhesion receptors and the conservative positions of cysteine residues in their amino acid sequences, the intrachain and interchain disulphide-bond pattern found here in GPIIb will most probably be conserved in all two-chain alpha-subunits of these receptors. The N-linked glycosylation points found here in platelet GPIIb are the same as the five N-glycosylated asparagine residues suggested after cDNA sequencing of human erythroleukaemic-cell GPIIb [Poncz, Eisman, Heindenreich, Silver, Vilaire, Surrey, Schwartz & Bennett (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 8476-8482]. Some of the general features of the structure of GPIIb, such as the existence of distinct domains in the alpha- and beta-subunits, as well as the identification of well-defined points in its external topography, are discussed.

The alpha- and beta-subunits of glycoprotein IIb (GPIIb) of human platelet plasma membrane were isolated in fully reduced, partially reduced and alkylated, and fully alkylated forms, by size-exclusion chromatography after reduction of pure GPIIb. The sugar moiety of GPIIb alpha accounts for 16.4% of its total weight, whereas that of GPIIb beta accounts for only 10.2%. The molar percentages (per 100 mol of total amino acids) of neuraminic acid and galactose in the alpha-subunit more than double those in the beta-subunit, whereas galactosamine is present only in GPIIb alpha. From the amino acid and sugar compositions the acidic nature of both subunits was confirmed. The Mr values obtained, 114,000 for GPIIb alpha and 22,200 for GPIIb beta, are in very good agreement with those obtained by physical methods. We found by stepwise reduction of pure GPIIb with dithioerythritol that GPIIb alpha and GPIIb beta are joined by a single interchain disulphide bridge, while the remaining half-cystine residues participate in intrachain bonds, six in GPIIb alpha and one in GPIIb beta, the intersubunit disulphide bond being that reduced first. Neither of the two subunits is liberated from isolated plasma membranes when this GPIIb interchain bond is reduced in isolated membranes.