Similar but nonidentical amino acid residues on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 are involved in the interaction with alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 7 under different activity states.

The integrin receptors alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 7 both bind to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Here, we report that the amino acid residue requirements for murine VCAM-1 adhesion to murine alpha 4 beta 1 (WEHI 231) and alpha 4 beta 7 (38C13/beta 7-transfectant) positive cells are strikingly similar but nonidentical under multiple adhesion activity states. By site-directed mutagenesis of domain 1 of VCAM-1, the amino acid residues on the loop between beta strands C and D (R36, Q38, I39, D40, P42) and on the adjacent antiparallel beta strand F (L70 and T72) were required for basal level adhesion to both alpha 4 beta 1-positive and alpha 4 beta 7-positive cells. Mutation at two other sites, N44 (loop between beta strands C and D) and E66 (loop between beta strands E and F), specifically reduced alpha 4 beta 7-positive cell adhesion, but not alpha 4 beta 1-positive cell adhesion. Mutation H85A augmented alpha 4 beta 7 binding but not alpha 4 beta 1 binding. These apparent differences relate to the higher intrinsic activity state of alpha 4 beta 1 on WEHI 231 than on alpha 4 beta 7 (38C13/beta 7-transfectant). In contrast, under higher adhesion activity states induced by either MnCl2 or truncation of the beta 7 cytoplasmic tail, mutation of either amino acid residue D40 or L70 completely blocked cell adhesion without evidence of structural perturbation of VCAM-1. These results suggested that the two structurally discontinuous amino acid residues, the negatively charged D40 and the hydrophobic L70 adjacently located on domain 1 of VCAM-1, are essential for interaction under multiple activity states with both alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 7 integrin receptors.