In HeLa cells beta 1 integrin forms heterodimers with alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5 and alpha 6 integrin subunits. Integrin alpha v beta 5 can also be detected. A monoclonal antibody SR-84 identified the alpha 1 integrin subunit in immunoprecipitation assays and inhibited alpha 1-related cell adhesion to different matrix proteins, laminin-1 and type I, IV, and V collagens, whereas its effect on adhesion to type II collagen was marginal. HeLa cells do not attach to type VI collagen. The presence of magnesium was essential for HeLa cell adhesion, whereas calcium alone was not sufficient and high concentrations of calcium even counteracted the effect of magnesium. Cell adhesion to type I collagen was sensitive to changes in pH, unlike cell adhesion to type IV collagen. We conclude that SR-84 is a valuable tool to study alpha 1 integrin-related functions, and that in HeLa cells alpha 1 beta 1 integrin is a magnesium-dependent receptor for type I, IV, and V collagens but not for type II and VI collagens.