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J. Cell Biol.,
Volume 141, Number 7, June 29, 1998 1675-1684
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Leukocyte antigen-related protein (LAR) is
a prototype for a family of transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatases whose extracellular domain is
composed of three Ig and several fibronectin type III (FnIII) domains. Complex alternative splicing of the
LAR-FnIII domains 4-8 has been observed. The extracellular matrix laminin-nidogen complex was identified
as a ligand for the LAR-FnIII domain 5 (Fn5) using a
series of GST-LAR-FnIII domain fusion proteins and testing them in in vitro ligand-binding assays. LAR-
laminin-nidogen binding was regulated by alternative
splicing of a small exon within the LAR-Fn5 so that inclusion of this exon sequence resulted in disruption of
the laminin-nidogen-binding activity. Long cellular processes were observed when HeLa cells were plated
on laminin-nidogen, but not when plated on a fibronectin surface. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody staining revealed high expression of LAR in a punctate pattern, throughout the length of these cellular processes
observed on laminin-nidogen. Antibody-induced cross-linking of LAR inhibited formation of these cellular
processes, and inhibition was correlated with changes in
cellular actin cytoskeletal structure. Thus, LAR-laminin-nidogen binding may play a role in regulating cell
signaling induced by laminin-nidogen, resulting in cell
morphological changes.
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