title: Cell adhesion: integrating cytoskeletal dynamics and cellular tension.
abstract: Cell migration affects all morphogenetic processes and contributes to numerous diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. For most cells in most environments, movement begins with protrusion of the cell membrane followed by the formation of new adhesions at the cell front that link the actin cytoskeleton to the substratum, generation of traction forces that move the cell forwards and disassembly of adhesions at the cell rear. Adhesion formation and disassembly drive the migration cycle by activating Rho GTPases, which in turn regulate actin polymerization and myosin II activity, and therefore adhesion dynamics.
authors: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. jtp@virginia.edu
authors: J Thomas
authors: JT
authors: Parsons
authors: Alan Rick
authors: AR
authors: Horwitz
authors: Martin A
authors: MA
authors: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D024462:Myosin Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D024462:Myosin Type II; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins