CS-1 melanoma cells transfected with cDNAs encoding either the beta 3 or beta 5 integrin subunit protein express alpha v beta 3 or alpha v beta 5, respectively, enabling them to adhere to vitronectin yet only alpha v beta 3 promotes cell spreading and migration on this substrate. Following exposure to insulin or insulin-like growth factor, alpha v beta 5-expressing CS-1 cells gain the ability to migrate on vitronectin. To identify structural regions in beta 3 or beta 5 that account for these distinct biological properties, CS-1 cells were transfected with one of two chimeric beta subunit proteins, in which the ecto- and cytoplasmic domains of beta 3 and beta 5 were exchanged (termed alpha v beta 3/5 or alpha v beta 5/3). Surprisingly, alpha v beta 3/5 expressing cells spread and migrate on vitronectin while cells expressing alpha v beta 5/3 do not unless they are exposed to cytokine. These findings suggest that the distinct migratory properties mediated by integrins alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 and their response to cytokine activation is determined by a sequence(s) within the ectodomain of the integrin beta subunit.