Assembly of coagulation and anticoagulation pathways occurs on vascular cells through the regulated ligand recognition of membrane protease receptors (1, 2). Belonging to structurally different and evolutionarily unrelated gene superfamilies, cell-surface receptors for thrombin (3), urokinase (4), protein S (5), or factor Xa (6) provide a controlled microenvironment for limited proteolytic activation of the clotting and fibrinolytic cascades (1, 2). Recent studies have also underscored the participation of protease receptors in pleiotropic mechanisms of vascular cell signal transduction, including transcription of activation-dependent genes (7), generation of intracellular second messengers (3), modulation of immune inflammatory responses (8), and cell proliferation (5, 9). Aberrations of protease-dependent signaling pathways may play a primary pathogenetic role in the establishment and progression of the atherothrombotic disease (9, 10) as well as in neoplastic transformation and tumor cell dissemination (5, 11).Binding of factor Xa to leukocytes (12) or endothelial cells 1 is contributed by effector cell protease receptor-1 (EPR-1), 2 a 337-amino acid single membrane-spanning glycoprotein lacking significant homologies to other protease receptors and expressed in a cell-type specific fashion by alternative mRNA splicing (13). Occupancy of EPR-1 with factor Xa participates in factor V/Va-independent mechanisms of prothrombin activation (6), generates intermediate product(s) of factor IX activation (14), or contributes an accessory pathway of lymphocyte costimulation (8).To gain insights into the potential pathophysiological relevance of EPR-1-factor Xa interaction in hemostasis and vascular cell signal transduction, we sought to identify the structural requirements implicated in receptor-ligand recognition. Using a eukaryotic expression strategy of EPR-1 chimeric constructs combined with site-directed mutagenesis and synthetic peptidyl mimicry, we have identified two spatially distinct regions in the EPR-1 extracellular domain separately involved in lymphocyte activation mechanisms or factor Xa binding and prothrombin activation. 2 The abbreviations used are: EPR-1, effector cell protease receptor-1; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; bp, base pairs; CHO, Chinese hamster ovary; mAb monoclonal antibody; HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cell(s).
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
Construction of EPR-1-ICAM-1 Chimeras-Three