Heparin binding domain in vitronectin is required for oligomerization and thus enhances integrin mediated cell adhesion and spreading

Chillakuri, Chandramouli R; Jones, Céline; Mardon, Helen J

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2010.06.023

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Volume 584, Issue 15 , Pages 3287-3291, 4 August 2010

Heparin binding domain in vitronectin is required for oligomerization and thus enhances integrin mediated cell adhesion and spreading

Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom

Received 28 April 2010; received in revised form 7 June 2010; accepted 14 June 2010. published online 21 June 2010.

Edited by Lukas Huber

Abstract

Vitronectin is a multi-functional protein found predominantly as a monomer in blood and as an oligomer in the extracellular matrix. We have dissected the minimal regions of vitronectin protein needed for effective integrin dependent cell adhesion and spreading. A fragment of vitronectin containing the RGD integrin binding site showed similar binding affinity as that of full vitronectin protein to purified integrin αvβ3 but had diminished cell adhesion and spreading function in vivo. We demonstrate that the oligomeric state of the protein is responsible for this effect. We provide compelling evidence for the involvement of the heparin binding domain of vitronectin in the oligomerization process and show that such oligomerization reinforces the activity of vitronectin in cell adhesion and spreading.