Synthesis by guinea pig megakaryocytes of platelet glycoprotein receptors for fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor.
In the preceding paper, we described two monoclonal antibodies, PG-1 and PG-2, that selectively blocked the binding of von Willebrand factor (PG-1) or of fibrinogen (PG-2) to guinea pig platelets. In this study we examine the structures and site of synthesis of these receptors. NP-40 lysates of radiolabeled guinea pig platelets were immunoprecipitated with monoclonal antibodies PG-1 or PG-2, and the precipitates analyzed by SDS-PAGE. PG-1 recognized a single polypeptide with reduced Mr of 143,000 daltons, while PG-2 precipitated two chains with reduced Mr of 121,000 and 93,000 daltons. Periodate-[3H]borohydride labeling of platelets, in conjunction with two-dimensional SDS-PAGE, showed that all three of the polypeptides are glycoproteins and that the 143,000 and 121,000 dalton chains are linked by disulfide bond(s) to smaller, approximately 25,000 dalton polypeptides. Guinea pig megakaryocytes synthesized polypeptides immunoprecipitable by PG-1 and PG-2, with molecular weights similar to polypeptides found associated with platelet membranes. These studies demonstrate that guinea pig platelets have functional receptors for fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor that are structurally homologous to human platelet glycoproteins Ib, IIb and IIIa, and that these glycoproteins are synthesized by megakaryocytes.