Integrins as architects of cell behavior

CH Streuli - Molecular biology of the cell, 2016 - Am Soc Cell Biol
Molecular biology of the cell, 2016Am Soc Cell Biol
Integrins are cell surface receptors that bind cells to their physical external environment,
linking the extracellular matrix to cell function. They are essential in the biology of all
animals. In the late 1980s, we discovered that integrins are required for the ability of breast
epithelia to do what they are programmed to do, which is to differentiate and make milk.
Since then, integrins have been shown to control most other aspects of phenotype: to stay
alive, to divide, and to move about. Integrins also provide part of the mechanism that allows …
Integrins are cell surface receptors that bind cells to their physical external environment, linking the extracellular matrix to cell function. They are essential in the biology of all animals. In the late 1980s, we discovered that integrins are required for the ability of breast epithelia to do what they are programmed to do, which is to differentiate and make milk. Since then, integrins have been shown to control most other aspects of phenotype: to stay alive, to divide, and to move about. Integrins also provide part of the mechanism that allows cells to form tissues. Here I discuss how we discovered that integrins control mammary gland differentiation and explore the role of integrins as central architects of other aspects of cell behavior.
Am Soc Cell Biol