GPIIb) And IIIa Research Articles

Localization of the cross-linking sites of RGD and KQAGDV peptides to the isolated fibrinogen receptor, the human platelet integrin glycoprotein IIb/IIIa. Influence of peptide length.

The non-covalent and Ca(2+)-dependent heterodimer GPIIb/IIIa, formed by platelet glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa), also known as the integrin alpha IIb beta 3, is the inducible receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins on the surface of activated platelets. A fraction of the isolated GPIIb/IIIa in solution binds RGD or KQAGDV inhibitory peptides and, upon peptide removal, apparently acquires the capacity to bind fibrinogen ('activated' GPIIb/IIIa) [Du, X., Plow, E. F., Frelinger, A. L., III, O'Toole, T. E., Loftus, J. C. & Ginsberg, M. H. (1991) Cell 65, 409-416]. Photoaffinity labelling was used here to study the ligand binding site(s) of GPIIb/IIIa in solution, for which the peptides CKRKRKRKRRGDV (alpha 1), CGRGDF (alpha 2), CYHHLGGAKQAGDV (gamma 1) and CGAKQAGDV (gamma 2) were synthesized with a photoactivable cross-linker group and a fluorescent reporter group attached to the N-terminal cysteine residue. Contrary to the situation in activated platelets, both GPIIb and GPIIIa were equally labelled by the four peptides and the cross-linking sites were localized by protein chemical analyses of the fluorescently labelled tryptic peptides of both subunits. Thus, the localization of the cross-linking sites in GPIIb varies considerably with the peptide length and is very different from that localization observed in activated platelets: alpha 2 and gamma 2 were found cross-linked to the N-terminal of both the heavy (GPIIbH 42-73) and the light (GPIIbL2 30-75) chains of GPIIb; while the longer peptides alpha 1 and gamma 1 were cross-linked to the C-terminal of GPIIbH within the 696-724 and 752-768 peptide stretches, respectively. On the other hand, the cross-linking sites of the four inhibitory peptides in GPIIIa were found mainly within the proteolysis susceptible region, between the N-terminal (GPIIIa 1-52) and the core (GPIIb 423-622) highly disulphide-bonded domains, observing that the longer the peptide the closer the cross-linking site is to the N-terminal of GPIIIa: alpha 1 at GPIIIa 63-87 and 303-350; gamma 1 at GPIIIa 9-37; alpha 2 at GPIIIa 151-191; and gamma 2 at GPIIIa 303-350. These results led us to the following conclusions. (a) The GPIIIa 100-400 region contributes to the ligand-binding domain in GPIIb/IIIa both in solution and in activated platelets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Proteolytic dissection of the isolated platelet fibrinogen receptor, integrin GPIIb/IIIa. Localization of GPIIb and GPIIIa sequences putatively involved in the subunit interface and in intrasubunit and intrachain contacts.

Human platelet glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa) form the subunits of the Ca(2+)-dependent heterodimer GPIIb/IIIa, which belongs to the integrin family of phylogenetically related receptors mediating a wide variety of cell-cell and cell-substratum interactions. GPIIb/IIIa plays a central role in haemostasis as a receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins at the surface of activated platelets. The covalent structure of the subunits is largely known; however, the tertiary and quaternary structures of the heterodimer remain to be determined. To this end, our approach consisted of limited proteolysis of the isolated heterodimer with proteinases of different specificities, followed by protein-chemical and immunochemical analyses of the peptide fragments within each isolated proteolytic product. From the information obtained, we have drawn a rudimentary map which outlines the demarcation of compact domains and the subunit peptide stretches carrying the sequences putatively involved in intrachain, intrasubunit and intersubunit non-covalent connectivity in the heterodimer. Three compact domains have been well defined: one in the heavy (H) chain of GPIIb [GPIIbH-(600-700)], and two in GPIIIa, the N-terminal [GPIIIa-(1-52)] and the core [GPIIIa-(423-622)] domains. Between the latter two domains there is a proteolysis-susceptible region, which is partly involved in ligand binding [GPIIIa-(100-220)] and partly implicated as being in teh subunit interface of the heterodimer. Contrary to GPIIIa, GPIIbH is highly susceptible to proteolysis all along its sequence. Equally susceptible are the extracellular end of the transmembrane segment of both GPIIIa and the light (L) chain of GPIIb (GPIIbL), and the N-terminal end of GPIIbL. Three sequence stretches along the C-terminal half of GPIIbH, one sequence stretch in GPIIbL and three sequence stretches within the GPIIIa-(217-421) region were putatively involved in the subunit interface of the heterodimer. Most likely, the N-terminal end of GPIIbL is folded over the N- and C-terminal regions of GPIIbH, and the N-terminal end of GPIIbH is folded against the GPIIbH-(600-700) domain. This map of GPIIb/IIIa does not fit the current accommodation of the amino acid sequence of GPIIb and GPIIIa in the head/two-tails image of the heterodimer obtained by metal-rotary-shadowing electron microscopy.

A large-scale procedure for the isolation of integrin GPIIb/IIIa, the human platelet fibrinogen receptor

The heterodimer GPIIb/IIIa, formed by the Ca 2+-dependent association of glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa), is the major integrin at the platelet surface, where it serves as the receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins and plays a central role in platelet aggregation and in platelet adhesion to the subendothelium. Here we describe a procedure for the isolation of GPIIb/IIIa using as starting material either the whole particulate fraction, obtained by differential centrifugation after hypoosmotic lysis of glycerol-loaded platelets, or any of the fractions obtained by density gradient centrifugation of the whole particulate fraction. The procedure consists simply of differential extraction with Triton X-100 of the starting particulate fraction, anion-exchange chromatography of the 4% Triton X-100 supernatant, and size-exclusion chromatography of the GPIIb/IIIa-rich fraction retained in the ion-exchange column. The use of particulate fractions instead of whole platelets as the starting material for extraction together with differential extraction with Triton X-100 (two steps that are simple and inexpensive to perform) results in the early removal of many unwanted proteins, which otherwise would have to be removed at later stages at the expense of severely impairing the final yield of GPIIb/IIIa. Pure GPIIb/IIIa is obtained with a yield of about 48%, the highest so far reported, calculated with respect to the GPIIb and GPIIIa content in the starting particulate fraction. The final product can be stored in freeze-dried form without apparent changes in its physical and chemical properties. Because of its simplicity, the procedure was easily and successfully scaled up by doubling the diameter of the columns used, providing about 200 mg of GPIIb/IIIa from a single preparation.

Calcium binding to human platelet integrin GPIIb/IIIa and to its constituent glycoproteins. Effects of lipids and temperature

Platelet plasma membrane glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa) form a Ca(2+)-dependent heterodimer. GPIIb/IIIa, which serves as the receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins at the surface of activated platelets. Using equilibrium dialysis measurements, it was established that both GPIIb and GPIIIa in solution have low-affinity Ca(2-)-binding sites (Kd0.2-0.3 mM), five in GPIIb and two in GPIIIa, and it was confirmed that only the alpha-chain of GPIIb (GPIIb alpha) binds Ca2+. Furthermore, Ca2+ binding was found with two CNBr fragments of GPIIb, GPIIb alpha-(1-285) and GPIIb alpha-(314-489), which carry three out of the four putative Ca(2+)-binding sites. GPIIb/IIIa in solution has a single high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding site (Kd1 80 +/- 30 nM at 21 degrees C), whose degree of saturation regulates the state of association of GPIIb and GPIIIa in the GPIIb/IIIa heterodimer at room temperature, and 3-4 medium-affinity Ca(2+)-binding sites (Kd2 40 +/- 15 microM at 21 degrees C). When GPIIb/IIIa was incorporated into liposomes, Kd1 decreased by an order of magnitude (9 +/- 3 nM at 21 degrees C) and reached the dissociation constant estimated for the high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding sites at the platelet surface [Brass & Shattil (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 1400-1405], whereas Kd2 remained unchanged. The high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding site of GPIIb/IIIa in solution at 4 degrees C has almost the same affinity (Kd1 65 +/- 20 nM) as at 21 degrees C; however, at 37 degrees C, either its affinity decreases enough so as to become experimentally indistinguishable from the medium-affinity Ca(2+)-binding sites determined at this temperature (number of binding sites 3.9 +/- 1.2 mol of Ca2+/mol of GP, Kd 25 +/- 11 microM), or vanishes altogether. Studies on Ca(2+)-dependent dissociation of GPIIIb/IIIa at 37 degrees C in solution seem to support the former interpretation. Further work will be necessary to decide whether the dissociation of GPIIb/IIIa in the platelet membrane at 37 degrees C is regulated by the degree of saturation of the high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding site, as occurs in solution. It is suggested that the high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding site could be related to the putative GPIIIa-binding region in GPIIb (residues 558-747 of the alpha chain).

Molecular characterization of the human platelet integrin GPIIb/IIIa and its constituent glycoproteins

Human platelet plasma membrane glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa) form a Ca(2+)-dependent heterodimer, the integrin GPIIb/IIIa, which serves as the receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins at the surface of activated platelets. Below the critical micellar concentration of Triton X100 (TtX), the three glycoproteins do not bind appreciably to TtX and form association products of large size. The size-exclusion chromatographic patterns of GPIIb, GPIIIa and GPIIb/IIIa have been obtained at 0.2% TtX, and the molecular properties of the association products and monomer fractions have been determined by analysis of the detergent bound to the glycoproteins, laser-light scattering, sedimentation velocity, and electron microscopy (TEM). The monomer of the GPIIb-TtX complex was identified by the molecular mass (M) of the glycoprotein moiety (125 +/- 15 kDa), the molecular size (9.5 +/- 1.5 nm x 11 +/- 1.5 nm) and globular shape observed by TEM. It has a molecular mass (M*) of 197 +/- 20 kDa, a sedimentation coefficient s degrees 20* of 5.8 +/- 0.1 S, a Stokes radius R s* of 6.8 +/- 0.4 nm, and a frictional ratio f*/fmin* of 1.7 +/- 0.14. The (GPIIb)n-TtX complexes are disulphide-bonded size-heterogeneous association products of GPIIb, tetramers being the smallest species found. GPIIIa has a greater propensity to self-associate than GPIIb, this tendency being lower below 1 mg GPIIIa/ml, 0.1 mM Ca2+, pH 9.0. The (GPIIIa)n-TtX complexes are noncovalent size-heterogeneous association products of GPIIIa, tetramers being the smallest form observed. The monomer of the GPIIIa-TtX complex was identified by the 103 +/- 15 kDa M determined for the glycoprotein moiety, and the 9 +/- 1.5 nm x 10 +/- 1.5 nm size and globular shape observed by TEM. It has a M* of 136 +/- 15 kDa, a s degrees 20* of 3.9 +/- 0.3 S, a Rs* of 6.4 +/- 0.5 nm, a f*/fmin* of 1.9 +/- 0.3, and, when stored at pH 7.4, has a certain tendency to form filamentous association products (20-70 nm x 2-5 nm), as observed by TEM. The GPIIb/IIIa-TtX complex in 0.2% TtX/0.1 mM Ca2+ elutes as a single monomeric fraction, as deduced from the 210 +/- 15 kDa M determined for its glycoprotein moiety and the 12 +/- 1.5 nm x 14 +/- 1.5 nm size of the globular forms observed by TEM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Human platelets and megakaryocytes contain alternately spliced glycoprotein IIb mRNAs.

The earliest marker of the megakaryocyte lineage in human bone marrow is a heterodimeric complex of glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa). GPIIb-IIIa is a member of the integrin family and serves as a receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive glycoproteins on the surface of activated blood platelets. Mature platelet GPIIb is processed from a single precursor peptide into a disulfide-linked GPIIb alpha and GPIIb beta chain. To study possible mechanisms which could determine ligand specificity of the GPIIb-IIIa complex we investigated whether there are multiple forms of GPIIb mRNA by screening an unamplified lambda gt10 human erythroleukemia cell cDNA library. Four GPIIb clones were isolated and sequenced. Two contained a 102-nucleotide in-frame deletion corresponding to 34 amino acids in the extracellular domain of GPIIb beta. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of human erythroleukemia cell cDNA confirmed the presence of two different transcripts. Normal genomic DNA sequence was shown to contain consensus splice-donor and splice-acceptor sites indicating a 102-base pair exon that is spliced in or out. Using primers specific for either transcript, both forms of GPIIb mRNA were identified by the polymerase chain reaction in normal human platelets and megakaryocytes, but not in reticulocytes or two white blood cell lines. These data provide evidence for two forms of GPIIb in platelets and megakaryocytes and suggest a mechanism for variations in receptor ligand affinity or localization.

C-terminal amino acid determination of the transmembrane subunits of the human platelet fibrinogen receptor, the GPIIb/IIIa complex

Glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa) form the Ca 2+ -dependent GPIIb/IIIa complex, which acts as the fibrinogen receptor on activated platelets. GPIIb and GPIIIa are synthesized as single peptide chains. The GPIIb precursor is processed proteolytically to yield two disulphide-bonded chains, GPIIba and GPIIbß. The GPIIb/IIIa complex has two membrane attachment sites located at the C-tennini ofGPIIß and GPIIIa. The short cytoplasmic tails of GPIIbß and/or GPIIIa become most likely associated to the cytoskeleton of activated platelets. In the present work the C-tenninal amino acid residues of platelet GPIIbß and GPIIIa have been analyzed by protein-chemical methods and compared with those predicted from cDNA analysis. We were able to confirm the positions of the C-tennini in both glycoproteins and the identity of the C-tenninus predicted for GPIIIa, i.e. threonine. However, glutamine, not glutamic acid as predicted for GPIIbß from the human erythroleukemic cell line and megakaryocyte cells, was found to be the C-terminal amino acid of GPIIß. This indicates that the glutamic arid in the GPIIb precursor is posttranslationally modified to glutamine.

Identification of an abnormal gene for the GPIIIa subunit of the platelet fibrinogen receptor resulting in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia

The platelet fibrinogen receptor, which is composed of glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa), belongs to a large family of receptors that participate in a multitude of biologically important adhesive interactions. Platelets from most patients with the autosomal recessive bleeding disorder, Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, are deficient in GPIIb and GPIIIa. We have used cDNA probes to analyze the GPIIb and GPIIIa genes in four patients from three kindreds with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. Southern analysis of their DNA was identical to that observed in normals when probed with a full-length GPIIb cDNA or a 3′ GPIIIa cDNA. However, in one family, a 5′ 2.0 kb GPIIIa cDNA identified abnormal DNA fragments in the father and two affected siblings' genes. A series of restriction digests resulting in small genomic fragments were probed with portions of the 5′ 2.0 kb GPIIIa cDNA and indicated that the abnormal sequences are flanked by normal fragments of the GPIIIa gene. To analyze further the genetic defect in this family, RNA was prepared from their platelets. Northern analysis revealed normal levels of GPIIb mRNA compared to control platelets. We were unable to identify GPIIIa mRNA of any size in the clinically affected family members. We also identified an EcoRI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) that permitted carrier status determination in the clinically unaffected siblings. These studies indicate that Glanzmann's thrombasthenia can be caused by heterogeneous defects in the GPIIIa gene. Furthermore, we have shown that platelets can be used to characterize normal and abnormal GPIIIa and GPIIb mRNA, and RFLPs may be used to determine the carrier status in some families with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. The specific gene abnormality in this family appears to represent an example of an insertional mutation resulting in a human disease.

Identification of an Abnormal Gene for the GPIIIa Subunit of the Platelet Fibrinogen Receptor Resulting in Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia

The platelet fibrinogen receptor, which is composed of glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa), belongs to a large family of receptors that participate in a multitude of biologically important adhesive interactions. Platelets from most patients with the autosomal recessive bleeding disorder, Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, are deficient in GPIIb and GPIIIa. We have used cDNA probes to analyze the GPIIb and GPIIIa genes in four patients from three kindreds with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. Southern analysis of their DNA was identical to that observed in normals when probed with a full-length GPIIb cDNA or a 3' GPIIIa cDNA. However, in one family, a 5' 2.0 kb GPIIIa cDNA identified abnormal DNA fragments in the father and two affected siblings' genes. A series of restriction digests resulting in small genomic fragments were probed with portions of the 5' 2.0 kb GPIIIa cDNA and indicated that the abnormal sequences are flanked by normal fragments of the GPIIIa gene. To analyze further the genetic defect in this family, RNA was prepared from their platelets. Northern analysis revealed normal levels of GPIIb mRNA compared to control platelets. We were unable to identify GPIIIa mRNA of any size in the clinically affected family members. We also identified an EcoRI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) that permitted carrier status determination in the clinically unaffected siblings. These studies indicate that Glanzmann's thrombasthenia can be caused by heterogeneous defects in the GPIIIa gene. Furthermore, we have shown that platelets can be used to characterize normal and abnormal GPIIIa and GPIIb mRNA, and RFLPs may be used to determine the carrier status in some families with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. The specific gene abnormality in this family appears to represent an example of an insertional mutation resulting in a human disease.

Purification and Identification of the Lipoprotein-binding Proteins from Human Blood Platelet Membrane

As reported previously, homologous plasma lipoproteins specifically bind to the plasma membrane of human blood platelets. The two major lipoprotein-binding membrane glycoproteins were purified to apparent homogeneity and identified by their mobilities in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both in the nonreduced and reduced state, by specific antibodies against glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa), respectively, including the alloantibody anti-PlA1 and monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, lipoprotein binding to intact platelets is also inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by preincubation of the platelets with antibodies against these glycoproteins. From these experiments it can be concluded that lipoproteins bind to both components of the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex in isolated membranes and intact platelets. High density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein bind to GPIIIa blotted to nitrocellulose in a way that binding of one species interferes with the binding of the other. Addition of fibrinogen significantly inhibits this binding. The specific binding of fibrinogen to GPIIIa is strongly inhibited in the presence of either of the two lipoproteins. LDL and HDL are specifically bound by isolated GPIIb, too. In our blotting experiments fibrinogen shows no binding to this membrane glycoprotein. On the other hand, fibrinogen significantly interferes with the interaction between GPIIb and the lipoproteins.

Cloning of glycoprotein IIIa cDNA from human erythroleukemia cells and localization of the gene to chromosome 17

Platelet aggregation requires the binding of adhesive proteins such as fibrinogen to the heterodimer of membrane glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa). Human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells synthesize both GPIIb and GPIIIa. Using poly(A+) RNA purified from HEL cells, we constructed a cDNA library in the lambda gt10 phage vector. This library was screened with a 38mer oligonucleotide derived from a platelet GPIIIa peptide, and three overlapping cDNAs were isolated. The three inserts encompassed 3.5 kilobases (kb), including the entire coding region of mature GPIIIa (2,286 basepairs, bp) and 1.3 kb of 3′ untranslated sequence. All 222 residues determined directly from platelet GPIIIa tryptic peptides exactly matched the HEL cell-deduced amino acid sequence. The HEL cell sequence matched a previously reported endothelial cell cDNA sequence except for eight nucleotides. Five of these nucleotide differences were silent changes consistent with genetic polymorphisms. The other three differences resulted in changes in the deduced amino acid sequence of GPIIIa; reexamination of the endothelial cell cDNA sequence in these three areas revealed that it is actually identical to the HEL cell sequence. The virtual identity of the endothelial and HEL cell cDNA sequences provides direct evidence that GPIIIa is a subunit common to cell-adhesion receptors present in more than one cell type. We localized the gene for GPIIIa to chromosome 17, the same chromosome to which we had previously mapped the gene for GPIIb.

Cloning of Glycoprotein Illa cDNA From Human Erythroleukemia Cells and Localization of the Gene to Chromosome 17

Platelet aggregation requires the binding of adhesive proteins such as fibrinogen to the heterodimer of membrane glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa). Human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells synthesize both GPIIb and GPIIIa. Using poly(A+) RNA purified from HEL cells, we constructed a cDNA library in the lambda gt10 phage vector. This library was screened with a 38mer oligonucleotide derived from a platelet GPIIIa peptide, and three overlapping cDNAs were isolated. The three inserts encompassed 3.5 kilobases (kb), including the entire coding region of mature GPIIIa (2,286 basepairs, bp) and 1.3 kb of 3' untranslated sequence. All 222 residues determined directly from platelet GPIIIa tryptic peptides exactly matched the HEL cell-deduced amino acid sequence. The HEL cell sequence matched a previously reported endothelial cell cDNA sequence except for eight nucleotides. Five of these nucleotide differences were silent changes consistent with genetic polymorphisms. The other three differences resulted in changes in the deduced amino acid sequence of GPIIIa; reexamination of the endothelial cell cDNA sequence in these three areas revealed that it is actually identical to the HEL cell sequence. The virtual identity of the endothelial and HEL cell cDNA sequences provides direct evidence that GPIIIa is a subunit common to cell-adhesion receptors present in more than one cell type. We localized the gene for GPIIIa to chromosome 17, the same chromosome to which we had previously mapped the gene for GPIIb.

New isolation procedure and further biochemical characterization of glycoproteins IIb and IIIa from human platelet plasma membrane.

We describe a new procedure for isolation of glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa) from human platelet plasma membrane with high yields (2.7 mg of GPIIb and 3.3 mg of GPIIIa per 100 mg of starting platelet membrane proteins), equivalent to a recovery of 35% and 55% respectively of the total GPIIb and GPIIIa of the membrane. The procedure involves Triton X-100 differential extraction of platelet membranes, SDS solubilization of the 4%-Triton X-100 supernatant, zonal centrifugation in a sucrose density gradient, and preparative high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. The weight percentage of sugar is 15.7% for GPIIb and 12.5% for GPIIIa. Neuraminic acid is present in both glycoproteins, representing 30% and 15% respectively of the total sugar weight of GPIIb and GPIIIa. Mannose, galactose and glucosamine account for 45%, 13% and 28% respectively of the sugars of GPIIIa, whereas galactosamine was not detected. Mannose, galactose, glucosamine and galactosamine represent 17%, 21%, 24% and 10% respectively of the sugar content of GPIIb. The molar percentages of half-cystine and methionine are 4-fold and 2-fold higher respectively in GPIIIa than in GPIIb. From the amino acid and sugar compositions we confirmed the acidic nature of both glycoproteins. The Mr values obtained, 136,500 for GPIIb and 91,500 for GPIIIa, are in very good agreement with those obtained by physical methods. The apparent lack of free thiol groups in both glycoproteins indicates that the tertiary structure of GPIIIa is maintained by 21 intrachain disulphide bonds, and that there are eight intrachain and interchain disulphide groups in GPIIb.

Platelet glycoproteins IIb and IIIa: evidence for a family of immunologically and structurally related glycoproteins in mammalian cells.

Human and bovine cultured cell lines and circulating leukocytes were examined for the presence of surface proteins similar to platelet glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa). Human endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and MG-63 fibroblast-like cells were found to have surface proteins that cross-reacted with platelet GPIIb and GPIIIa antibodies, existed as complexes, and had molecular weights similar to those of the corresponding platelet glycoproteins. Bovine endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells also expressed GPIIb- and GPIIIa-like surface proteins. Metabolic labeling studies with [35S]methionine demonstrated that the cultured cells synthesized these glycoproteins. The GPIIIa-like protein in human endothelial and smooth muscle cells had the same isoelectric point as platelet GPIIIa, whereas their GPIIb alpha-like protein was slightly more acidic than platelet GPIIb alpha (pI = 5.2-5.3 versus 5.5). Platelet and endothelial cell GPIIb alpha (but not GPIIIa) showed an increased electrophoretic mobility in Ca2+ -containing versus EDTA-containing gels, implying a Ca2+ -GPIIb alpha interaction. The amino acid sequence of the amino termini of platelet GPIIb alpha and GPIIb beta and of the alpha chains of the leukocyte LFA-1 and Mac-1 glycoprotein complexes had significant sequence homology. These data indicate that glycoproteins that have either immunological cross-reactivity or amino-terminal sequence homology with the platelet GPIIb-IIIa complex are widely distributed in human and non-human adherent cells and circulating leukocytes and suggest that these proteins may be the products of a large gene family whose expression is cell specific.

Structures of the carbohydrate chains of membrane glycoproteins IIb and IIIa of human platelets.

Human platelet membrane glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa), which have been proposed to be subunits of a receptor for fibrinogen, were purified from Triton X-100-solubilized platelet membranes by affinity chromatography on a concanavalin A (Con A)-Sepharose column followed by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Compositional analyses of the purified glycoproteins showed that GPIIb and GPIIIa contain 15% and 18% carbohydrate by weight, respectively, which consists of galactose, mannose, glucosamine, fucose, and sialic acid. This suggested that these glycoproteins contained N-linked carbohydrate chains. The carbohydrate chains were released from each glycoprotein by hydrazinolysis and then fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono Q column. From each glycoprotein, mono-, di-, and trisialylated and neutral oligosaccharide fractions were obtained. The structures of these oligosaccharides were investigated by means of compositional and methylation analyses and digestion by exoglycosidase, and their reactivities to immobilized lectins were also examined. The neutral oligosaccharides, which comprised about 14% of the total oligosaccharides released from GPIIb and about 52% of that from GPIIIa, were found to be of the high mannose-type, in that they contained 5 or 6 mannose residues. On the other hand, a major part of the acidic oligosaccharides was found to consist of typical bi- and triantennary complex-type sugar chains, and much smaller amounts of tetraantennary complex-type sugar chains, and complex-type sugar chains with a fucosyl residue at a N-acetylglucosamine residue in the peripheral portion or a bisecting N-acetylglucosamine at a beta-mannosyl residue in the core portion were also detected. In conclusion, we found that GPIIb contained mainly complex-type sugar chains, whereas high mannose-type sugar chains were the predominant carbohydrate units in GPIIIa, and that the detected differences in the carbohydrate moieties of GPIIb and GPIIIa were quantitative but not qualitative.