Focal adhesion kinase: in command and control of cell motility

SK Mitra, DA Hanson, DD Schlaepfer - Nature reviews Molecular cell …, 2005 - nature.com
Nature reviews Molecular cell biology, 2005nature.com
A central question in cell biology is how membrane-spanning receptors transmit
extracellular signals inside cells to modulate cell adhesion and motility. Focal adhesion
kinase (FAK) is a crucial signalling component that is activated by numerous stimuli and
functions as a biosensor or integrator to control cell motility. Through multifaceted and
diverse molecular connections, FAK can influence the cytoskeleton, structures of cell
adhesion sites and membrane protrusions to regulate cell movement.
Abstract
A central question in cell biology is how membrane-spanning receptors transmit extracellular signals inside cells to modulate cell adhesion and motility. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a crucial signalling component that is activated by numerous stimuli and functions as a biosensor or integrator to control cell motility. Through multifaceted and diverse molecular connections, FAK can influence the cytoskeleton, structures of cell adhesion sites and membrane protrusions to regulate cell movement.
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