Site-specific N-glycosylation of integrin α2 mediates collagen-dependent cell survival

Integrin alpha 2 (ITGA2) promotes cancer metastasis through selective adhesion to ECM proteins; however, the specific contribution of integrin glycosylation remains uncertain. We provide evidence that ITGA2 is a highly glycosylated transmembrane protein expressed in ovarian cancer tissue and cell lines. In-depth glycoproteomics identified predominant N- and O-glycosylation sites harboring substantially divergent ITGA2 glycosylation profiles. Generated putative ITGA2 N-glycosite mutants halted collagen and laminin binding and cells lacking N-glycosylated ITGA2 were marginally adherent to collagen, likely associated with its enhanced proteasome degradation through poly-ubiquitination. Proteomic and enrichment pathway analysis revealed increased cellular apoptosis and collagen organization in non-glycosylated ITGA2 mutant cells. Moreover, we provide evidence that ITGA2-specific sialylation is involved in selective cell-ECM binding. These results highlight the importance of glycans in regulating ITGA2 stability and ligand binding capacity which in turn modulates downstream focal adhesion and promotes cell survival in a collagen environment.