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Focal adhesions: a personal perspective on a half century of progress
Author(s) -
Burridge Keith
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/febs.14195
Subject(s) - focal adhesion , extracellular matrix , integrin , microbiology and biotechnology , actin cytoskeleton , perspective (graphical) , matrix (chemical analysis) , adhesion , actin , cytoskeleton , chemistry , receptor , signal transduction , biology , cell , computer science , biochemistry , organic chemistry , chromatography , artificial intelligence
Focal adhesions (FAs) are specialized sites within the cell where clustered integrin receptors interact with the extracellular matrix on the outside of cells and with the actin cytoskeleton on the inside. They provide strong adhesion to the matrix and transmit mechanical tension generated within cells across the plasma membrane to the external environment. Additionally, they act as scaffolds for many signaling pathways triggered by integrin engagement or mechanical force exerted on cells. Here I describe my personal perspective on FA research which I have witnessed since the initial discovery and description of FAs as electron dense regions of the ventral plasma nearly half a century ago.