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Nature 430, 513-515 (29 July 2004) | doi:10.1038/430513a; Published online 28 July 2004

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Cell biology:  How to build a cell junction

William I. Weis1

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Structures of the protein vinculin reveal drastic conformational changes associated with binding to its partners in cell-adhesion contacts. These changes might let vinculin regulate the assembly of these complexes.

The development and organization of tissues depends on adhesive junctions, structures that enable cells to stick to one another and to attach to the extracellular matrix. These highly dynamic multi-protein complexes reach from the cytoplasm through the cell membrane to the outside of the cell.

  1. William I. Weis is in the Departments of Structural Biology and of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 299 Campus Drive West, Stanford, California 94305-5126, USA.
    e-mail: Email: bill.weis@stanford.edu

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