REVIEW: Integrins: Structure and Signaling

A. E. Berman^*, N. I. Kozlova, and G. E. Morozevich

Orekchovich Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Pogodinskaya ul. 10, Moscow 119121, Russia; fax: (7-095) 245-0857; E-mail: berman@ibmh.msk.su

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received May 22, 2003

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Integrins are cell surface transmembrane glycoproteins that function as adhesion receptors in cell-extracellular matrix interactions and link the matrix proteins to the cytoskeleton. The family of human integrins comprises 24 members, each of which is a heterodimer consisting of 1 of 18 alpha- and 1 of 8 beta-subunits. Integrins play an important role in the cytoskeleton organization and in transduction of intracellular signals, regulating various processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell migration. This review summarizes current views on the structure of integrins, integrin associated proteins, and biochemical mechanisms underlying their signaling functions.

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KEY WORDS: integrins, extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton, signaling

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