DISTINCT FUNCTIONS OF INTEGRIN-ALPHA AND INTEGRIN-BETA SUBUNIT CYTOPLASMIC DOMAINS IN CELL SPREADING AND FORMATION OF FOCAL ADHESIONS

Integrin-mediated cell adhesion often results in cell spreading and the formation of focal adhesions. We exploited the capacity of recombinant human alpha(IIb)beta3 integrin to endow heterologous cells with the ability to adhere and spread on fibrinogen to study the role of integrin cytoplasmic domains in initiation of cell spreading and focal adhesions. The same constructs were also used to analyze the role of the cytoplasmic domains in maintenance of the fidelity of the integrin repertoire at focal adhesions. Truncation mutants of the cytoplasmic domain of alpha(IIb) did not interfere with the ability Of alpha(IIb)beta3 to initiate cell spreading and form focal adhesions. Nevertheless, deletion of the alpha(IIb) cytoplasmic domain allowed indiscriminate recruitment of alpha(IIb)beta3 to focal adhesions formed by other integrins. Truncation of the beta3 subunit cytoplasmic domain abolished cell spreading mediated by alpha(IIb)beta3 and also abrogated recruitment of alpha(IIb)beta3 to focal adhesions. This truncation also dramatically impaired the ability of alpha(IIb)beta3 to mediate the contraction of fibrin gels. In contrast, the beta3 subunit cytoplasmic truncation did not reduce the fibrinogen binding affinity of alpha(IIb)beta3. Thus, the integrin beta3 subunit cytoplasmic domain is necessary and sufficient for initiation of cell spreading and focal adhesion formation. Further, the beta3 cytoplasmic domain is required for the transmission of intracellular contractile forces to fibrin gels. The alpha subunit cytoplasmic domain maintains the fidelity of recruitment of the integrins to focal adhesions and thus regulates their repertoire of integrins.