title: The urokinase receptor and cell migration.
abstract: The receptor (u-PAR) for urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) is a three-domain protein, GPI-anchored to the cell surface, which focuses the enzymatic activity of u-PA, and allows the cell surface activation of plasminogen. Regulation of the activity of u-PA is also mediated by u-PAR. In fact, while active u-PA is not internalized or degraded, rather remaining active at the cell surface, serpin-inactivated u-PA is internalized, through the intervention of a second molecule, the alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor (LRP). In the process u-PAR too is internalized and possibly recycles back to the cell surface. In addition, u-PAR occupancy can also directly transduce migratory signals, like chemotaxis, that do not require the protease activity of u-PA. Occupancy of u-PAR activates tyrosine kinases, in particular of p56/p59hck, through an as yet undefined transmembrane adaptor.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia dei Microrganismi, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blasi
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator