Outside-in signaling of  3 integrins induces and requires phosphorylation at tyrosine 747 (Tyr 747 ) and tyrosine 759 (Tyr 759 ) of the  3 subunit, but the mechanism for this requirement is unclear. On the other hand, a key consequence of integrin signaling, cell spreading, is inhibited by calpain cleavage of  3 cytoplasmic domain. Here we show that  3 tyrosine phosphorylation inhibits calpain cleavage. Mutating both tyrosines to phenylalanine sensitizes  3 to calpain cleavage. Furthermore, phosphorylation at Tyr 747 and Tyr 759 of  3 in the focal adhesion sites and the leading edge of spreading platelets was differentially regulated. Selective dephosphorylation of Tyr 759 is associated with calpain cleavage at Tyr 759 . Thus, one mechanism by which tyrosine phosphorylation promotes integrin signaling and cell spreading is its inhibition of calpain cleavage of the  3 cytoplasmic domain.Integrins mediate cell adhesion and transduce signals that are critical in the dynamic regulation of cell adhesion, spreading, migration, and proliferation (1, 2). Integrin signaling is a two-way process exemplified by inside-out and outside-in signaling of the platelet integrin, ␣ IIb  3 . Inside-out signaling is believed to be transduced by talin binding to the cytoplasmic domain of ␣ IIb  3 (3-7), and consequent conformational changes (5, 6), which propagate to the ligand binding domain of ␣ IIb  3 , activating ligand binding function (8,9). Ligand binding to ␣ IIb  3 not only forms adhesive bond but also induces outside-in signaling, leading to cell spreading, secretion, stabilization of platelet adhesion, and amplification of platelet aggregation (10, 11).The cytoplasmic domain of  3 is critical in bidirectional signaling (12-15). Inside-out signaling requires the membrane proximal region and the two NXXY motifs in the  3 cytoplasmic domain (3)(4)(5)(6)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Outside-in signaling requires the intact cytoplasmic domain of  3 (15) and also requires tyrosine phosphorylation in NXXY motifs (20,21). However, the mechanism responsible for the role of tyrosine phosphorylation of  3 in outside-in signaling is unclear. On the other hand, the cytoplasmic domain of  3 is cleaved by the calcium-dependent proteases (calpain) at sites flanking two NXXY motifs, preferentially at the C-terminal side of Tyr 759 (15,22,23). A consequence of calpain cleavage of  3 at Tyr 759 is the inhibition of  3 -dependent cell spreading, which is an outside-in signaling event (15). In studying the relationship between these two seemingly unrelated  3 modifications that regulate the function of the cytoplasmic domain of  3 , we found that tyrosine phosphorylation in  3 cytoplasmic domain inhibits cleavage of  3 by calpain. Since calpain cleavage negatively regulates outside-in signaling-mediated cell spreading, our finding provides a mechanism by which tyrosine phosphorylation of  3 promotes integrin outside-in signaling.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURESPeptides-Peptides were synthesized by Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Universit...