Browsing by Subject "Integrins"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    Focal adhesion kinase: Protein interactions and cellular functions
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2002) Abbi, S.; Guan, J.L.
    Integrin-mediated cell adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) plays important roles in a variety of biological processes. Recent studies suggested that integrins mediate signal transduction across the plasma membrane via activating several intracellular signaling pathways. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that has been shown to be a major mediator of integrin signal transduction pathways. Upon activation by integrins, FAK undergoes autophosphorylation as well as associations with several other intracellular signaling molecules. These interactions in the signaling pathways have been shown to regulation a variety of cellular functions such as cell spreading, migration, cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell survival. Recent progress in the understanding of FAK interactions with other proteins in the regulation of these cellular functions will be discussed in this review
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    Regulation of tumor cell invasion by extracellular matrix
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1999) Crowe, D.L.; Shuler, C.F.
    The ability of malignant tumor cells to invade normal surrounding tissue contributes in large part to the significant morbidity and mortality of these cancers. The process of invasion involves adherence of the tumor cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM), degradation of matrix components, and movement of the cell body. Attachment to ECM molecules is mediated by the integrin family of extracellular matrix receptors. Integrins are a large family of heterodimeric proteins which transduce a variety of signals from the ECM. Ligand occupancy is critical for activation of integrin signaling. This signaling may occur via several different pathways. One of the best characterized of these pathways is the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. This serial phosphorylation of substrate proteins terminates in activation of transcription factors which regulate expression of target genes. Many of these genes are critical for extracellular matrix degradation or cell migration. Among these are the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a large family of ECM-degrading enzymes. Regulatory elements in the promoters of MMPs have been characterized, providing insight into how MMP expression is controlled. This review focuses on mechanisms by which the ECM regulates tumor cell invasion through integrin signaling via the MAPK pathway using MMP expression as the model.