Talin forges the links between integrins and actin
David A. Calderwood
& Mark H. Ginsberg
David A. Calderwood and Mark H. Ginsberg are in the Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
ginsberg@scripps.edu or cldrwood@scripps.edu
The physical link between integrin adhesion receptors and the actin cytoskeleton mediates bidirectional transmission of force and biochemical signals across the plasma membrane. This link is essential for the development and function of multicellular animals. Recent work reveals that the integrin-associated actin-binding protein talin provides the initial connections between integrins and the cytoskeleton, establishing a pivotal role for this connection in bi-directional integrin signalling.
