Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Analysis of Schwann-astrocyte Interactions Using In Vitro Assays
Published on: January 13, 2011
The adaptor protein Grb2 regulates cell surface Fas ligand in Schwann cells
Peter B Thornhill1, Jason B Cohn, William L Stanford
1Department of Physiology, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal, Que., Canada H3G 1Y6.
Abstract:
Fas Ligand (FasL, CD178) is a cytokine that may be secreted or expressed as a transmembrane ligand at the cell surface, and induces apoptosis by binding to the "death receptor" Fas (CD95). Here, we show that Grb2, an SH3 domain-containing adaptor protein, binds to the proline-rich domain of FasL and regulates its cell surface expression. We found that knocking down Grb2 expression decreased the amount of FasL at the cell surface and increased the abundance of intracellular vesicles containing FasL. Furthermore, we showed that Grb2 acts as an adaptor for FasL to interact with adaptin beta, a molecule known to regulate trafficking. Our data reveal that Grb2 facilitates the association of FasL with adaptin beta, and promotes sorting of FasL to the cell surface. As FasL is a potent regulator of cell death, dynamic regulation of its cell surface localization is critical for controlling local tissue remodeling and inflammation.
Related Concept Videos
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
Assembly of Signaling Complexes
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...
Activation of Integrins
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or...

