Modulation of integrin activation and signaling by α1/α1′-helix unbending at the junction

Abstract

How conformational signals initiated from one end of the integrin are transmitted to the other end remains elusive. At the ligand-binding βI domain, the α1/α1′-helix changes from a bent to a straightened α-helical conformation upon integrin headpiece opening. We demonstrated that a conserved glycine at the α1/α1′ junction is critical for maintaining the bent conformation of the α1/α1′-helix in the resting state. Mutations that facilitate α1/α1′-helix unbending rendered integrin constitutively active. However, mutations that block the α1/α1′-helix unbending abolished soluble ligand binding upon either outside or inside stimuli. Such mutations also blocked ligand-induced integrin extension from outside the cell, but had no effect on talin-induced integrin extension from inside the cell. In addition, integrin mediated cell spreading, F-actin stress fiber and focal adhesion formation, and focal adhesion kinase activation were also defective in these mutant integrins, although the cells still adhered to immobilized ligands at a reduced level. Our data establish the structural role of the α1/α1′ junction that allows relaxation of the α1/α1′-helix in the resting state and transmission of bidirectional conformational signals by helix unbending upon integrin activation.