Cellular partitioning of beta-1 integrins and their phosphorylated forms is altered after transformation by Rous sarcoma virus or treatment with cytochalasin D.

A sequential extraction procedure of 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS) buffer followed by RIPA or Laemmli sample buffer was developed to define two distinct subpopulations of beta-1 integrins in primary chicken embryo fibroblasts. Extraction of cells in culture revealed an association of adhesion plaque-localized integrin with the CHAPS-insoluble fraction. Phosphorylated integrins were found in both fractions, but the specific phosphorylation was 12-fold higher in the CHAPS insoluble fraction. The phosphorylation was evenly distributed between phosphoserine and phosphotyrosine. Transformation by Rous sarcoma virus caused a redistribution of integrin to rosettes and an increase in total integrin phosphorylation. Treatment with cytochalasin D caused a redistribution of the adhesion plaque-associated integrin into lacelike structures and reduced the level of integrin phosphorylation. These treatments also caused an altered distribution of phosphorylated integrin between the CHAPS soluble and insoluble fractions. These results suggest a role for integrin phosphorylation in the assembly and disassembly of cellular adhesion structures.