Integrins are a/? heterodimeric cell adhesion receptors that play essential roles in the developing and adult kidney, through tightly regulated metal-dependent interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) that modulate cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, matrix deposition and remodeling. Binding of integrins to ECM ligands requires an activation step initiated upon binding of cytoskeletal talin or kindlin to the ?-subunit cytoplasmic domain. This interaction breaks an intracellular a/? salt bridge in the cytoplasmic domains, triggering a conformational wave that travels through the a/? transmembrane (TM) and lower leg domains to activate the ligand-binding head domain. Binding of ECM ligands then triggers structural changes in the integrin that travel in the opposite direction to the cell interior, modifying cell behavior. Crystal structures of unliganded ?TM-aV?3 and ?TM-aII?3 ectodomains and structures of these ectodomains bound to short peptide ligands- diffused into the preformed protein crystals- identified an unexpected bent conformation of the ectodomain and elucidated the structural basis of metal ion dependency for ligand binding. But as these structures are lacking critical exofacial residues, as well as the TM and cytoplasmic domains, and were unoccupied by macromolecular ECM ligands de novo, a comprehensive understanding of bidirectional integrin signaling at the atomic level remains elusive. In preliminary studies, we have determined the crystal structure of 1TM-aV?3, which encodes the complete sequence of the ectodomain plus an a/? TM fragment. Second, we produced the first electron cryomicroscopy structure of a full-length integrin in a bent conformation with resolved features of the TM domains. Third, we obtained diffraction quality crystals of the integrin in complex with a macromolecular ligand and with an activating mAb. Fourth, we demonstrate that a/? TM-cytoplasmic domains expressed in bacteria can form heterodimers in the absence of the ectodomain, through one of two TM interfaces, one of which is found in the inactive full-length integrin. Fifth, we show the feasibility of assessing integrin conformational states in live mammalian cells by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. These findings form the basis of new hypotheses that are tested in three specific aims. The results derived from the proposed studies should answer central questions in the biology of integrin-mediated cell adhesion and define the structural basis of bidirectional signaling.

Public Health Relevance

Formation and maintenance of kidney structure and function critically depends on the normal function of a family of cell adhesion receptors named integrins. Kidney agenesis, proteinuria, harmful inflammation and graft rejection are manifestations of abnormal integrin function. Elucidating how integrins are regulated at an atomic level is essential in understanding their biologic role, information that could be harnessed in devising new therapeutics.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK088327-02
Application #
8077242
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Kidney Study Section (CMBK)
Program Officer
Ketchum, Christian J
Project Start
2010-06-01
Project End
2014-05-31
Budget Start
2011-06-01
Budget End
2012-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$363,602
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02199
Dehnadi, Abbas; Benedict Cosimi, A; Neal Smith, Rex et al. (2017) Prophylactic orthosteric inhibition of leukocyte integrin CD11b/CD18 prevents long-term fibrotic kidney failure in cynomolgus monkeys. Nat Commun 8:13899
Camarata, Troy D; Weaver, Grant C; Vasilyev, Alexandr et al. (2015) Negative Regulation of TGF? Signaling by Stem Cell Antigen-1 Protects against Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury. PLoS One 10:e0129561
Wu, Qing; Zhang, Jiaojiao; Koh, Wonshill et al. (2015) Talin1 is required for cardiac Z-disk stabilization and endothelial integrity in zebrafish. FASEB J 29:4989-5005
Zhang, Jiaojiao; Yuan, Shipeng; Vasilyev, Aleksandr et al. (2015) The transcriptional coactivator Taz regulates proximodistal patterning of the pronephric tubule in zebrafish. Mech Dev 138 Pt 3:328-35
Rui, Xianliang; Mehrbod, Mehrdad; Van Agthoven, Johannes F et al. (2014) The ?-subunit regulates stability of the metal ion at the ligand-associated metal ion-binding site in ?3 integrins. J Biol Chem 289:23256-63
Van Agthoven, Johannes F; Xiong, Jian-Ping; Alonso, José Luis et al. (2014) Structural basis for pure antagonism of integrin ?V?3 by a high-affinity form of fibronectin. Nat Struct Mol Biol 21:383-8
Adair, Brian D; Altintas, Mehmet M; Möller, Clemens C et al. (2014) Structure of the kidney slit diaphragm adapter protein CD2-associated protein as determined with electron microscopy. J Am Soc Nephrol 25:1465-73
Palmyre, Aurélien; Lee, Jeongeun; Ryklin, Gennadiy et al. (2014) Collective epithelial migration drives kidney repair after acute injury. PLoS One 9:e101304
Mahalingam, Bhuvaneshwari; Van Agthoven, Johannes F; Xiong, Jian-Ping et al. (2014) Atomic basis for the species-specific inhibition of ?V integrins by monoclonal antibody 17E6 is revealed by the crystal structure of ?V?3 ectodomain-17E6 Fab complex. J Biol Chem 289:13801-9
Yu, Chih-Chuan; Fornoni, Alessia; Weins, Astrid et al. (2013) Abatacept in B7-1-positive proteinuric kidney disease. N Engl J Med 369:2416-23

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications