PMID: 9183647Sep 1, 1996Paper

Integrins in cell adhesion and signaling

Human Cell
S K Akiyama

Abstract

Cell adhesive interactions play important roles during many normal physiological processes such as embryonic development and wound repair, and also during the progression of diseases such as cancer. Cell adhesion is mediated by the specific interactions of cell surface receptors with extracellular glycoproteins. The best characterized cell adhesion receptors are the integrins. Integrins comprise a family of more than 23 noncovalent, heterodimeric complexes consisting of an alpha and a beta subunit. Each subunit is a glycoprotein with a large, globular extracellular domain and a transmembrane domain. Most integrins have relatively small cytoplasmic domains consisting of fewer than 60 amino acids. Although many integrins can bind fibronectin, the alpha 5, beta 1, integrin is the major fibronectin receptor on most cells. This integrin mediates such cellular responses to fibronectin substrates as adhesion, migration, assembly of extracellular matrix, and signal transduction. Integrin ligands, such as fibronectin, are not passive adhesive molecules but are active participants in the cell adhesive process that leads to signal transduction. The best characterized integrin ligand is fibronectin. Fibronectin is a multifunctional glycopr...Continue Reading

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