UC San Diego

Increased ligand binding to integrin ("activation") underpins many biological processes, such as leukocyte trafficking, cell migration, host-pathogen interaction, and hemostasis. Integrins exist in several conformations, ranging from compact and bent to extended and open. However, the exact conformation of membrane-embedded, full-length integrin bound to its physiological macromolecular ligand is still unclear. Integrin αIIbβ3, the most abundant integrin in platelets, has been a prototype for integrin activation studies. Using negative stain electron microscopy and nanodisc-embedding to provide a membrane-like environment, we visualized the conformation of full-length αIIbβ3 in both a Mn(2+)-activated, ligand-free state and a Mn(2+)-activated, fibrin-bound state. Activated but ligand-free integrins exist mainly in the compact conformation, whereas fibrin-bound αIIbβ3 predominantly exists in a fully extended, headpiece open conformation. Our results show that membrane-embedded, full-length integrin adopts an extended and open conformation when bound to its physiological macromolecular ligand.