Premium
Linking integrins to the cytoskeleton during tissue morphogenesis.
Author(s) -
Brown Nicholas
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a205-b
Subject(s) - integrin , microbiology and biotechnology , paxillin , actin cytoskeleton , cytoskeleton , focal adhesion , biology , cell adhesion , ptk2 , actin , signal transduction , genetics , cell , protein kinase c , mitogen activated protein kinase kinase
A connection between integrins and the cytoskeleton is a key part of how integrins mediate migration and adhesion. A surprisingly large number of proteins have been found that may contribute to the formation and regulation of this connection. We have been using a simple animal, Drosophila , to test the function of these proteins in the integrin‐mediated processess that occur during tissue morphogenesis. Many of the candidate integrin‐associated proteins are just encoded by a single gene in Drosophila, in contrast to mammals, where 2–4 related proteins are encoded in the genome, so that potential redundancy between closely related proteins is not a concern. Genetic removal of the cytoskeletal linker protein talin causes defects that are almost identical to removing integrins, indicating that talin is essential for all integrin adhesion. Structure‐function analysis has revealed that talin has independent roles in strengthening integrin adhesion by inside‐out activation and forming the link to the actin cytoskeleton. Talin is required to recruit other integrin‐associated proteins, indicating that it may anchor the actin cytoskeleton indirectly as well as directly. Integrin linked kinase and the LIM domain protein PINCH are required for strong integrin adhesion, but are not required for integrin dependent cell migration. Elimination of paxillin does not perturb most integrin adhesive functions, but does affect integrin organisation of actin structures.