Interaction of Fibronectin with Integrins

 

Giancotti & Ruoslahti, Science 285: 1029 (1999)

Integrins are a family of transmembrane heterodimeric receptors that engage cells with their environment. The extracellular domains bind to components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), usually through recognition of an RGD tripeptide as first identified in fibronectin [ref]. This triggers changes in the cytoplasmic domains, altering their interaction with cytoskeletal and/or other proteins that regulate cell adhesion, growth and migration. At the same time, signals generated inside the cell can alter the activation state of some integrins, affecting their affinity for their extracellular ligands. Thus, integrins are able to signal across the membrane in both directions , inside-out and outside-in [ref].

( See also excellent review by Johansson et al. )