PIP2 and talin join forces to activate integrin

A Orłowski, S Kukkurainen, A Poyry… - The Journal of …, 2015 - ACS Publications
The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2015ACS Publications
Integrins are major players in cell adhesion and migration, and malfunctions in controlling
their activity are associated with various diseases. Nevertheless, the details of integrin
activation are not completely understood, and the role of lipids in the process is largely
unknown. Herein, we show using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations that the
interplay of phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and talin may directly alter the
conformation of integrin αIIbβ3. Our results provide a new perspective on the role of PIP2 in …
Integrins are major players in cell adhesion and migration, and malfunctions in controlling their activity are associated with various diseases. Nevertheless, the details of integrin activation are not completely understood, and the role of lipids in the process is largely unknown. Herein, we show using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations that the interplay of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and talin may directly alter the conformation of integrin αIIbβ3. Our results provide a new perspective on the role of PIP2 in integrin activation and indicate that the charged PIP2 lipid headgroup can perturb a clasp at the cytoplasmic face of the integrin heterodimer.
ACS Publications