title: The diverse roles and multiple forms of focal adhesion kinase in brain.
abstract: Although it was originally characterized as a constituent of focal adhesions in fibroblasts, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is now considered to be not only a mediator of adhesion processes but also a crucial regulator of guidance and a modulator of gene expression. FAK is the main transducer of the integrin signaling required to stabilize the actin cytoskeleton. However, additional activities have been described over the years. In the brain, FAK deserves particular attention as it is found in various alternatively spliced forms - these distributed in multiple subcellular compartments or bound to multiple partners. Moreover, its signaling involves not only phosphorylation but also ubiquitination and proteolysis. Several experimental cell models demonstrate that FAK increases or decreases migration, participates in differentiation and contributes to plasticity events. In addition, this kinase is linked to cell survival in cancer and apoptosis. This review focuses on the diversity of events involving brain-located forms of FAK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biologia Cellular, Fac Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal, 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas Ciberned (ISC III), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Armendáriz
authors.forename: Maria del Mar
authors.initials: Mdel M
authors.lastname: Masdeu
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Jesús M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ureña
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burgaya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000201:enzymology; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000201:enzymology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
keywords: gene transcription; guidance; kinases; neuritogenesis; synaptogenesis