A detailed depiction of the 'integrin adhesome', consisting of a complex network of 156 components linked together and modified by 690 interactions is presented. Different views of the network reveal several functional 'subnets' that are involved in switching on or off many of the molecular interactions within the network, consequently affecting cell adhesion, migration and cytoskeletal organization. Examination of the adhesome network motifs reveals a relatively small number of key motifs, dominated by three-component complexes in which a scaffolding molecule recruits both a signalling molecule and its downstream target. We discuss the role of the different network modules in regulating the structural and signalling functions of cell-matrix adhesions.
Top-down and bottom-up approaches for studying the integrin adhesomeCell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions are mediated through specialized subcellular sites that contain specific adhesion receptors, cytoskeletal elements and a wide variety of interconnecting adaptor proteins [1][2][3] . These adhesion complexes permit cells to sense multiple extracellular signals that specify the chemical identity, geometry and physical properties of the ECM 4,5 . Thus, cells behave differently on two-and three-dimensional matrices 6 , distinguish between different ECM components 7 , can detect differences in adhesive ligand density 8 , and respond to mechanical perturbation and surface rigidity 9,10 .
Competing Financial Interests:The authors declare no competing financial interests.Website -www.adhesome.org contains the adhesome database of components and interactions with an interface that allows dynamical navigation between hyperlinked subnets created for each component and for many network motifs within the adhesome network.Publisher's Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Nature Publishing Group has a collaboration with the Cell Migration Consortium for the creation and maintenance of the Cell Migration gateway (http://www.cellmigration.org/), but has no role in generating or curating the Cell Migration Consortium database content. As always, Nature Cell Biology Editors have been fully independent and solely responsible for the editorial content and peer review of this Analysis article.
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Author ManuscriptNat Cell Biol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2009 August 31.
Published in final edited form as:Nat Cell Biol. 2007 August ; 9(8): 858-867. doi:10.1038/ncb0807-858.
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NIH-PA Author ManuscriptTo understand the mechanisms underlying these diverse responses, in-depth characterization of individual proteins or pathways 11,12 , and collection of information about multiple components that concertedly form the presumed adhesome 13,14 , have been undertaken. Each of these approaches has limitations, and individually is unlikely to explain how the adhesion machinery senses environmental cues and responds to them. However, combining data from the two approaches could produce new mechanistic insights into the structu...