title: New insights into the structural basis of integrin activation.
abstract: Integrins are cell adhesion receptors that communicate biochemical and mechanical signals in a bidirectional manner across the plasma membrane and thus influence most cellular functions. Intracellular signals switch integrins into a ligand-competent state as a result of elicited conformational changes in the integrin ectodomain. Binding of extracellular ligands induces, in turn, structural changes that convey distinct signals to the cell interior. The structural basis of this bidirectional signaling has been the focus of intensive study for the past 3 decades. In this perspective, we develop a new hypothesis for integrin activation based on recent crystallographic, electron microscopic, and biochemical studies.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, Leukocyte Biology and Inflammation Program, Structural Biology Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stehle
authors.forename: Simon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: M Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arnaout
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D008024:Ligands