Talin: an emerging focal point of adhesion dynamics

The adhesion protein talin and the phosphoinositide PIP2 are emerging as key modulators of adhesion dynamics. Recent genetic studies on talin demonstrate its physiological role in organizing adhesions, stabilizing integrin-actin linkages and mediating integrin signaling in vivo. Biophysical force measurements provide further evidence that it is required for the reinforcement of the extracellular matrix-integrin-actin connection. Knockdown data along with structural analyses establish a major role for talin in 'inside-out' integrin activation through its direct interaction with integrin cytoplasmic domains. A recently uncovered role for talin is the recruitment of a PIPKI gamma isoform to adhesions. This introduces a novel connection between talin and PIP2 generation. Finally, PIP2 also stimulates the transient, direct binding interaction of the Arp2/3 complex with vinculin and thus may couple adhesion to actin assembly.