Variant integrin polypeptides and uses thereof

Abstract

Polypeptides comprising all or part of a variant integrin α subunit A domain and its flanking region are described. In solution or in membrane-associated form, the A domain polypeptides of the invention exists predominantly in a high affinity conformation. In the polypeptides of the invention, referred to as variant integrin polypeptides, a crucial isoleucine or glutamic acid residue is altered. For example, the glutamic acid can be either deleted or replaced with different amino acids residue, e.g., glutamine, aspartic acid, or alanine The variant integrin polypeptides of the invention selectively impair binding of activation-dependent ligands, but not independent ligands. They are useful in screening assays for the identification of molecules that enhance binding of variant polypeptides with impaired binding. In addition, they are useful in distinguishing between activation-dependent ligands and activation-independent ligands. They are also useful for generating antibodies, e.g., monoclonal antibodies, which bind to the impaired form of an integrin. Some such antibodies recognize an epitope that is either not present or not accessible on an integrin that is in the high affinity conformation. The variant integrin polypeptides of the invention can be derived from any integrin α subunit that could be used therapeutically.