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The integrin–actin connection, an eternal love affair
Author(s) -
Brakebusch Cord,
Fässler Reinhard
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/cdg245
Subject(s) - biology , connection (principal bundle) , actin , integrin , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , receptor , structural engineering , engineering
Integrin receptors connect the extracellular matrix to the actin cytoskeleton. This interaction can be viewed as a cyclical liaison, which develops again and again at new adhesion sites only to cease at sites of de‐adhesion. Recent work has demonstrated that multidomain proteins play crucial roles in the integrin–actin connection by providing a high degree of regulation adjusted to the needs of the cell. In this review we present several examples of this paradigm and with special emphasis on the ILK–PINCH–parvin complex, which amply demonstrates how structural and signalling functions are linked together.