Summary
Antibodies against synthetic peptides corresponding to four Ca2+- binding motifs of the αIIb subunit have been obtained and used as molecular probes to analyze the topography
of the αIIbβ3 complex. The specificity of the antibodies has been characterized by ELISA and Western
immunoblotting in terms of binding capacity and affinity to the isolated αIIbβ3 and its αIIb subunit. Our data suggest that: (a) all four Ca2+-binding motifs of the αIIb are partially exposed on the surface of the intact molecule and accessible to antipeptide
antibodies. However, they are not in close vicinity to the ligand recognition domain
since the antibodies do not produce complete inhibition of platelet aggregation, (b)
The conformation of amino acid stretches which form the second Ca2+-binding motif of αIIb is particularly dependent upon the presence of cation, and this region undergoes
significant conformational alterations upon Ca2+ expulsion.