Review
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 2, 793-805 (November 2001) | doi:10.1038/35099066
Transmembrane crosstalk between the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton
Benjamin Geiger1, Alexander Bershadsky1, Roumen Pankov2 & Kenneth M. Yamada2 About the authors
Abstract
Integrin-mediated cell adhesions provide dynamic, bidirectional links between the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton. Besides having central roles in cell migration and morphogenesis, focal adhesions and related structures convey information across the cell membrane, to regulate extracellular-matrix assembly, cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. This review describes integrin functions, mechanosensors, molecular switches and signal-transduction pathways activated and integrated by adhesion, with a unifying theme being the importance of local physical forces.
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Author affiliations
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
- Craniofacial Developmental Biology and Regeneration Branch, National Institute of Craniofacial and Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Correspondence to: Benjamin Geiger1 Email: benny.geiger@weizmann.ac.il