[Conformational changes of the platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex stimulated by a monoclonal antibody to the N-terminal segment of glycoprotein IIIa].

During platelet activation, the glycoprotein (GP) complex IIb-IIIa (alpha 11b beta 3-integrin) changes its conformation, resulting in binding of adhesive proteins of RGD containing an amino acid sequence as well as in expression of new ligand-induced binding sites (LIBS) on the GPIIb-IIIa molecule. Like its F(ab)-fragments, the monoclonal antibody CRC54, whose epitope is located in the N-terminal part of the GPIIIa molecule, binds to no more than 10% of GPIIb-IIIa on the resting platelet surface. However, the binding of CRC54 increases considerably during activation of platelets by thrombin, platelet adhesion on plastic, GPIIb-IIIa interaction with RGDS-peptide as well as during dissociation of the complex in the presence of EDTA.