Objective: To study the effect of interaction of the talin rod domain integrin binding site 2 with integrin β3 on platelet signal transduction.
Methods: A peptide that mimics the membrane proximal α helix 6 residues R724 KEFAK729 of the integrin β3 cytoplasmic tails was designed and synthesized, to which the myristoylation was covalently linked to the N-terminal of the peptide enabling membrane penetration. The effects of myr-RKEFAK peptide on the typical platelet outside-in signaling ovent (stable adhesion and spreading on immobilized fibrinogen, aggregation, fibrin clot retraction) and inside-out signaling events (soluble fibrinogen binding) were tested.
Results: myr-RKEFAK peptide dose-dependently inhibited platelet stable adhesion and spreading on immobilized fibrinogen, irreversible aggregation, as well as fibrin clot retraction, but not soluble fibrinogen binding and reversible phase of platelet aggregation.
Conclusion: The cell-penetrating peptide myr-RKEFAK causes an inhibitory effect on integrin β3 outside-in signaling-regulated platelets functions, but did not affect inside-out signaling-regulated platelets functions.