RESUMEN
αVß3 integrin can bind to multiple extracellular matrix proteins, including vitronectin (Vn) and fibronectin (Fn), which are often presented to cells in culture as homogenous substrates. However, in tissues, cells experience highly complex and changing environments. To better understand integrin ligand selection in such complex environments, we employed binary-choice substrates of Fn and Vn to dissect αVß3 integrin-mediated binding to different ligands on the subcellular scale. Super-resolution imaging revealed that αVß3 integrin preferred binding to Vn under various conditions. In contrast, binding to Fn required higher mechanical load on αVß3 integrin. Integrin mutations, structural analysis and chemical inhibition experiments indicated that the degree of hybrid domain swing-out is relevant for the selection between Fn and Vn; only a force-mediated, full hybrid domain swing-out facilitated αVß3-Fn binding. Thus, force-dependent conformational changes in αVß3 integrin increased the diversity of available ligands for binding and therefore enhanced the ligand promiscuity of this integrin.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.