Integrin α2β1 is the major receptor for collagens in the human body, and the collagen-binding site on the α2 subunit von Willebrand factor A-type domain (vWFA domain) is now well defined. However, the biologically important conformational changes that are associated with collagen binding, and the means by which the vWFA domain is integrated into the whole integrin are not completely understood. We have raised monoclonal antibodies against recombinant α2 vWFA domain for use as probes of function. Three antibodies, JA202, JA215 and JA218, inhibited binding to collagen, collagen I C-propeptide and E-cadherin, demonstrating that their function is important for structurally diverse α2β1 ligands. Cross-blocking studies grouped the epitopes into two clusters: (I) JA202, the inhibitory antibody, Gi9, and a non-inhibitory antibody, JA208; (II) JA215 and JA218. Both clusters were sensitive to events at the collagen binding site, as binding of Gi9, JA202, JA215 and JA218 were inhibited by collagen peptide, JA208 binding was enhanced by collagen peptide, and binding of JA202 was decreased after mutagenesis of the cation-binding residue Thr221 to alanine. Binding of cluster I antibodies was inhibited by the anti-functional anti-β1 antibody Mab13, and binding of Gi9 and JA218 to α2β1 was inhibited by substituting Mn2+ for Mg2+, demonstrating that these antibodies were sensitive to changes initiated outside the vWFA domain. Mapping of epitopes showed that JA202 and Gi9 bound between residues 212–216, while JA208 bound between residues 199–216. We have therefore identified two epitope clusters with novel properties; i.e. they are intimately associated with the collagen-binding site, responsive to conformational changes at the collagen-binding site and sensitive to events initiated outside the vWFA domain.
Monoclonal antibodies identify residues 199–216 of the integrin α2 vWFA domain as a functionally important region within α2β1
