Focal adhesions are large structures through which integrins and scaffold proteins link the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. A detailed analysis of integrin dynamics now indicates that focal-adhesion-associated integrins constantly switch between active and immobilized, and unbound and free-diffusing states, with different fibronectin-binding integrin heterodimers showing distinct focal-adhesion dynamics.
Johanna Ivaska. Unanchoring integrins in focal adhesions. Nature cell biology. 2012 Oct;14(10):981-3
PMID: 23033047
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