Calreticulin has multiple functions, diverse cellular locations, and putative
isoforms. It likely maintains
integrin avidity by binding alpha
integrin cytoplasmic tails and is a surface
lectin which triggers cell spreading. In the present study, we have immunocaptured a cell surface complex from B16 mouse
melanoma cells which contains
alpha 6 beta 1 integrin, two molecular forms of
calreticulin, and KDEL docking
protein (KDEL-R). One of the calreticulins, "endocalreticulin", a 52 kDa
protein, does not become surface biotinylated, and is probably bound to alpha
integrin cytoplasmic tails; it disappears when B16 cells adhere to
laminin, and two ubiquitinated calreticulins appear. One ubiquitinated species, a 125 kDa
protein, is restricted to focal contacts whereas a second species, a 75 kDa
protein, is in focal contacts and surrounding plasma membrane; it also arises when cells bind non-specific surfaces. The other
calreticulin, "ectocalreticulin", a 62 kDa
protein, becomes surface biotinylated, is probably anchored to surface KDEL-R, and cooperates with
alpha 6 beta 1 integrin, triggering cell spreading. The present results suggest a model in which
calreticulin-
integrin surface complex functions as a symbiotic unit, transmitting information in both directions across the plasma membrane.