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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Isolation of Labile Multi-protein Complexes by in vivo Controlled Cellular Cross-Linking and Immuno-magnetic Affinity Chromatography
Published on: March 10, 2010
The integrin chains beta 1 and alpha 6 associate with the chaperone calnexin prior to integrin assembly
1Hans-Spemann Laboratorium am Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie, Freiburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Integrins are alpha beta heterodimers that mediate cell-cell adhesion, as well as cell-substrate adhesion. The largest subclass is formed by 10 heterodimers (the very late antigens) that all share the beta 1-chain. We have found a 90-kDa protein that co-isolates with mouse integrin beta 1-chain. This 90-kDa protein was identified as the mouse homolog of calnexin, a membrane-bound chaperone and resident protein of the endoplasmic reticulum. First, the sequence of the 15 NH2-terminal amino acids of the 90-kDa protein is 80% and 87% identical to the corresponding sequences of canine and human calnexin, respectively. Second, the 90-kDa protein was recognized by a monoclonal antibody against calnexin/IP90. Association of calnexin with the integrin beta 1-chain was directly demonstrated by chemical cross-linking. As pulse-chase experiments revealed, the association of the beta 1-chain with calnexin occurred prior to the assembly with integrin alpha 6-chain. Additionally, the alpha 6-chain bound to calnexin before integrin assembly and dissociated again at the time of integrin-assembly. Our data suggest that calnexin is involved in the assembly of beta 1 integrins, as well as in the retention of a pool of immature integrin beta 1-chains in the ER.
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