In the integrin family, the collagen receptors form a structurally and functionally distinct
subgroup. Two members of this subgroup, α 1 β 1 and α 2 β 1 integrins, are known to bind to
monomeric form of type I collagen. However, in tissues type I collagen monomers are
organized into large fibrils immediately after they are released from cells. Here, we studied
collagen fibril recognition by integrins. By an immunoelectron microscopy method we
showed that integrin α 2 I domain is able to bind to classical D-banded type I collagen fibrils …