focal adhesions

In the third segment of my seminar, I address a new frontier in cell biology, that is how cells respond to mechanical information. Cells and tissues are exposed to physical forces in vivo and excessive mechanical stress leads to a variety of pathological consequences. I describe a system for exposing cells to controlled mechanical stress and discuss the stretch response. We have discovered that the focal adhesion protein, zyxin, is exquisitely sensitive to mechanical stimulation and is...

Cell-substratum adhesion is mediated by integrins, a family of transmembrane, heterodimeric, extracellular matrix receptors that are concentrated at focal adhesions. Integin engagement influences a variety of signaling pathways and regulates cell behaviors including motility, proliferation, and survival. Disturbance of normal integrin function is associated with a variety of pathologic conditions including cancer. In the first segment of my seminar, I provide a broad overview of the cancer...