Integrin-linked kinase (ILK): a regulator of integrin and growth-factor signalling.
Interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix (ECM) results in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and migration by coordinated signal transduction through integrins and growth-factor receptors. Integrins achieve signalling by interacting with intracellular effectors that couple integrins and growth-factor receptors to downstream components. One well-studied effector is focal-adhesion kinase (FAK), but recently another protein kinase, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), has been identified as a receptor-proximal effector of integrin and growth-factor signalling. ILK appears to interact with and be influenced by a number of different signalling pathways, and this provides new routes for integrin-mediated signalling. This article discusses ILK structure and function and recent genetic and biochemical evidence about the role of ILK in signal transduction.
BC Cancer Agency and Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of BC, Jack Bell Research Centre, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6H 3ZH. sdedhar@interchange.ubc.ca
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Dedhar
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Williams
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Hannigan
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK
D006133:Growth Substances; D016023:Integrins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK