What is the role of plaque proteins in adherens junction assembly? Cytoplasmic plaque of adherens junctions One of the primary roles of cell-cell adhesion complexes is to connect the actomyosin network of one cell to that of neighboring cells and facilitate the generation and [...]
What is the ‘Fork Initiation and Zipper’ model? The ‘Fork Initiation and Zipper’ Model Nectin-nectin cis interactions enable the formation of nectin-nectin trans interactions on apposing cells. These interactions, being uncooperative and short-lived in nature, are suited to the exploratory cell behavior initiated between [...]
What is integrin? Introduction to integrin and its structure Integrins are proteins that function mechanically, by attaching the cell cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix (ECM), and biochemically, by sensing whether adhesion has occurred. The integrin family of proteins consists of alpha and beta subtypes, [...]
What is cadherin? The cadherin glycoproteins includes over 100 members divided into 6 subfamilies; type I classical cadherins , type II atypical cadherins, desmosomal cadherins, flamingo cadherins, proto-cadherins and several ungrouped members. Cadherins can be identified through common motifs in their extracellular domains termed [...]
How is the cytoskeleton linked to adherens junctions? Early biochemical studies exploring the structural link between the cytoskeleton and cadherins in adherens junctions (AJs) concluded that it comprised direct interactions in the following order; cadherin tails bind β-catenin, β-catenin binds the VH1 domain of [...]
What are some alternative mechanisms in the regulation of adherens junctions? Alternative mechanisms also exist to regulate AJ formation and function. For example, the membrane trafficking system plays a significant role by facilitating the transport of E-cadherin–β-catenin complexes from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where [...]
What is talin? Talin contains a 47-kDa N-terminal head, a neck and a 220kDa rod domain. The head domain comprises four subdomains termed F0, F1, F2 and F3, with the latter three forming a three-lobed FERM domain. Integrin tail binding occurs via the F3 [...]
How does integrin clustering affect integrin signaling? Localization of Integrin The concentration of β subunits is generally high while that of α subunit is the factor limiting the amount of heterodimers that localize on the membrane [1]. Liganded integrins diffuse along the membrane and [...]
What is Zyxin? Zyxin is enriched along actin filaments, stress fiber bundles, and at cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion sites [1][2]. Zyxin is specifically found in more mature adhesions [3] and its absence in early adhesions is commonly used to distinguish the ‘age’ of an [...]
What is Vinculin? Vinculin is a protein that couples, transmits, transduces, and regulates mechanical force between the cytoskeleton and adhesion receptors (reviewed in [1]). Vinculin frequently links adhesion receptors (e.g. integrins) to the contractile actin-myosin cytoskeleton by binding either talin through its amino-terminal globular [...]
What is tensin? Tensin is a cytoskeleton scaffolding protein that was named for its ability to form a bridge that maintains tension between the actin filaments and cell-matrix adhesion sites (reviewed in [1]). A recent review of the molecular physiology of tensins, however, reveals [...]
What is parvin? The parvins are a family of actin binding proteins (known as α-, β- and γ-parvin in mammals) that are members of the actin linking functional module at cell-matrix adhesion sites (reviewed in [1]). Parvin is a small protein (42 kDa) that [...]
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One of four Research Centres of Excellence at NUS, MBI is working to identify, measure and describe how the forces for motility and morphogenesis are expressed at the molecular, cellular and tissue level.