Receptor for cell-binding domain of thrombospondins

An isolated 52 kDa protein receptor of the COOH-terminal cell-binding domain peptides adjacent to the RGD sequence in the last of the type 3 repeats in the linear amino acid sequence of thrombospondin 1 having the following characteristics:

• (a) VVM-containing peptides label said protein receptor,
• (b) the property of endothelial cell adhesion to said VVM containing peptides, wherein said endothelial cell contains said protein receptor, parallels the property of radio-labeling of said protein receptor by said VVM-containing peptides,
• (c) said protein receptor is an integral membrane glycoprotein component,
• (d) the VVM containing peptide binding site of said protein receptor is accessible to binding on the intact cell surface of said endothelial cell,
• (e) prior blockage of said protein receptor by reaction of said endothelial cell containing said protein receptor with said cell-binding domain peptides and cross linking reagent inhibits said endolethial cell adhesion, and
• (f) said protein receptor mediates said adhesion of said endothelial cell to said cell-binding domain of thrombospondin 1.