title: Structure and mechanics of integrin-based cell adhesion.
abstract: Integrins are alpha/beta heterodimeric adhesion glycoprotein receptors that regulate a wide variety of dynamic cellular processes such as cell migration, phagocytosis, and growth and development. X-ray crystallography of the integrin ectodomain revealed its modular architecture and defined its metal-dependent interaction with extracellular ligands. This interaction is regulated from inside the cell (inside-out activation), through the short cytoplasmic alpha and beta integrin tails, which also mediate biochemical and mechanical signals transmitted to the cytoskeleton by the ligand-occupied integrins, effecting major changes in cell shape, behavior, and fate. Recent advances in the structural elucidation of integrins and integrin-binding cytoskeleton proteins are the subjects of this review.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division, Leukocyte Biology & Inflammation Program, Structural Biology Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States. arnaout@receptor.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: M Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arnaout
authors.forename: Simon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000378:metabolism; D016023:Integrins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016608:Talin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D016023:Integrins; D008024:Ligands; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016608:Talin