Regulation of integrin alpha 5 beta 1 affinity during myogenic differentiation

The antigen recognized by U1 alpha, a monoclonal antibody to the alpha chain of a chicken integrin fibronectin receptor, was identified as alpha 5. It identifies the same polypeptide as antisera raised to a sequence from the alpha 5 cytoplasmic domain. The U1 alpha antibody has the unusual functional property for alpha chain antibodies of enhancing the binding of alpha 5 beta 1 for its ligand fibronectin. U1 alpha was used to examine the function of alpha 5 beta 1 during myogenic differentiation. As myogenic cells differentiated from replicating myoblasts to bipolar myocytes there was a decrease in their adhesion to the substrate caused by inactivation of alpha 5 beta 1, which could be reversed by treatment of the cells with U1 alpha. The U1 alpha induced increased adhesion to fibronectin but did not inhibit the differentiation process as measured by formation of myotubes. However, U1 alpha did interfere with both cell migration and morphogenesis of myotubes. The resulting myotubes were smaller, more branched, and showed less regular alignment of nuclei. The results suggest that the ability of the cell to regulate alpha 5 beta 1 affinity is critical to myogenic morphogenesis.