Binding domain for laminin on type IV collagen.

Binding of type IV collagen to laminin was studied by attaching one member of the ligand pair to a solid phase. When laminin was bound to a solid phase, type IV collagen exhibited saturable binding. Digestion of type IV collagen with high concentrations of pepsin destroyed the laminin binding activity. Type IV collagen was also found to bind to fibronectin but the binding activity was not destroyed by pepsin treatment. Rotary shadowing electron microscopy of the pepsin digested type IV collagen indicated that the carboxy terminal end region of about 100 nm is cleaved. Rotary shadowing electron microscopy studies demonstrate that the carboxy terminal end of type IV collagen has a major laminin binding site.