TY - JOUR
T1 - Structural insights into the function-modulating effects of nanobody binding to the integrin receptor αMβ2
AU - Jensen, Rasmus K.
AU - Pedersen, Henrik
AU - Lorentzen, Josefine
AU - Laursen, Nick Stub
AU - Vorup-Jensen, Thomas
AU - Andersen, Gregers Rom
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2022/8
Y1 - 2022/8
N2 - The integrin receptor αMβ2 mediates phagocytosis of complement-opsonized objects, adhesion to the extracellular matrix, and transendothelial migration of leukocytes. However, the mechanistic aspects of αMβ2 signaling upon ligand binding are unclear. Here, we present the first atomic structure of the human αMβ2 headpiece fragment in complex with the nanobody (Nb) hCD11bNb1 at a resolution of 3.2 Å. We show that the receptor headpiece adopts the closed conformation expected to exhibit low ligand affinity. The crystal structure indicates that in the R77H αM variant, associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, the modified allosteric relationship between ligand binding and integrin outside–inside signaling is due to subtle conformational effects transmitted over a distance of 40 Å. Furthermore, we found the Nb binds to the αI domain of the αM subunit in an Mg2+-independent manner with low nanomolar affinity. Biochemical and biophysical experiments with purified proteins demonstrated that the Nb acts as a competitive inhibitor through steric hindrance exerted on the thioester domain of complement component iC3b attempting to bind the αM subunit. Surprisingly, we show that the Nb stimulates the interaction of cell-bound αMβ2 with iC3b, suggesting that it may represent a novel high-affinity proteinaceous αMβ2-specific agonist. Taken together, our data suggest that the iC3b–αMβ2 complex may be more dynamic than predicted from the crystal structure of the core complex. We propose a model based on the conformational spectrum of the receptor to reconcile these observations regarding the functional consequences of hCD11bNb1 binding to αMβ2.
AB - The integrin receptor αMβ2 mediates phagocytosis of complement-opsonized objects, adhesion to the extracellular matrix, and transendothelial migration of leukocytes. However, the mechanistic aspects of αMβ2 signaling upon ligand binding are unclear. Here, we present the first atomic structure of the human αMβ2 headpiece fragment in complex with the nanobody (Nb) hCD11bNb1 at a resolution of 3.2 Å. We show that the receptor headpiece adopts the closed conformation expected to exhibit low ligand affinity. The crystal structure indicates that in the R77H αM variant, associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, the modified allosteric relationship between ligand binding and integrin outside–inside signaling is due to subtle conformational effects transmitted over a distance of 40 Å. Furthermore, we found the Nb binds to the αI domain of the αM subunit in an Mg2+-independent manner with low nanomolar affinity. Biochemical and biophysical experiments with purified proteins demonstrated that the Nb acts as a competitive inhibitor through steric hindrance exerted on the thioester domain of complement component iC3b attempting to bind the αM subunit. Surprisingly, we show that the Nb stimulates the interaction of cell-bound αMβ2 with iC3b, suggesting that it may represent a novel high-affinity proteinaceous αMβ2-specific agonist. Taken together, our data suggest that the iC3b–αMβ2 complex may be more dynamic than predicted from the crystal structure of the core complex. We propose a model based on the conformational spectrum of the receptor to reconcile these observations regarding the functional consequences of hCD11bNb1 binding to αMβ2.
KW - CD11b/CD18
KW - complement
KW - crystallography
KW - integrin
KW - nanobody
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85134178228&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102168
DO - 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102168
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35738398
AN - SCOPUS:85134178228
SN - 0021-9258
VL - 298
JO - Journal of Biological Chemistry
JF - Journal of Biological Chemistry
IS - 8
M1 - 102168
ER -