Merck, A9041-10MG, Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser

The tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) is a key component of the cell attachment domain of fibronectin. The RGDS sequence was found initially to promote the attachment of rat kidney fibroblasts (NRKcells) to fibronectin and synthetic fibronectin peptides coupled to protein-coated plastic. Further investigation indicated that the free RGDS peptide inhibited the attachment of NRK cells to fibronectin coated substrates. The RGDS sequence has been shown to occur in several other proteins, such as the λ receptor on E. coli and the Sindbis coat protein. RGDS is also a target sequence for spirochete adherence of the syphilis bacterium Treponema pallidum. RGDS has been shown to block fibrinogen-induced aggregation of intact erythrocytes and specific binding of fibrinogen to erythrocyte membranes. The effect of RGDS on transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1) mRNA expression and secretion in cultured human mesangial cells has been investigated. RGDS has been utilized in a study of integrin-mediated signal transduction in cultured cells from the sponge Suberites domuncula. RGDS has been demonstrated to mitigate the binding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to murine alveolar macrophages