Isolation And Purification Of Collagen And α1 Receptor From Platelet Membrane

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated that chick skin type I collagen and the α1(I) chain mediate platelet aggregation. Aggregation is associated with specific binding of these substances by platelet membranes. We now describe the isolation and purification of the receptor. Platelet membranes were prepared as described previously and isolated membranes were solubilized in 0.5% Triton. The receptor was then purified by a combination of gel filtration, affinity chromatography on α1(I)-sepharose or type I collagen-sepharose and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The receptor activity was assayed either directly by a binding assay using (14C)-glycine-labeled α1(I) or indirectly by an adhesion inhibition assay on Sepharose 2B with (14C)-sero- tinin-labeled platelets.The results show that the α1(I) receptor can be purified to a single band on SDS-gel electrophoresis with a recovery of 2.5%. Its activity is destroyed by preincubation with trypsin or pronase indicating it is a protein. The apparent molecular weight as estimated by gel filtration and SDS-gel electrophoresis is 95,000 daltons. The binding of (14C)- labeled α1(I) is specifically displaced by unlabeled α1(I), and the bound radioactivity can be removed by treatment with purified bacterial collagenase. The binding of (14C)- labeled α1(I) by the purified α1(I) receptor can also be inhibited by the receptor isolated from collagen-sepharose affinity chromatography. These data suggest that the α1(I) binding site is identical to the collagen binding site.