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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface
Published on: November 2, 2011
Phagocytosis, an alternative model system for the study of cell adhesion
Céline Cougoule1, Agnès Wiedemann, Jenson Lim
1Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Imperial College London, Flowers Building, Armstrong Road, London SW72AZ, UK.
Abstract:
Cell adhesion encompasses a variety of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesive interactions. Whereas ligation of most adhesion receptors activate Rho-family GTP-binding proteins and the subsequent reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, the molecular mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Because phagocytosis is a spatially restricted adhesion process, it represents a simplified model system to investigate the spatio-temporal regulation of the signalling pathways that link surface adhesion receptors, small GTPases and the actin cytoskeleton. This review highlights some of the similarities between the formation and maintenance of adhesive contacts and phagocytic uptake and discusses why the study of phagocytosis can help understand more complex adhesion processes.
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