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Related Concept Videos

Integrins01:10

Integrins

Animal and protozoan cells do not have cell walls to help maintain shape and provide structural stability. Instead, these eukaryotic cells secrete a sticky mass of carbohydrates and proteins into the spaces between adjacent cells. This network of proteins and molecules is called an extracellular matrix or ECM.
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...
Activation of Integrins01:15

Activation of Integrins

Integrins bind ligands and transmit information from outside the cell to inside or vice-versa through an "outside-in signaling" or "inside-out signaling."
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.
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Selectins01:25

Selectins

Cell adhesion is  an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain, which...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Experimental Metastasis Assay
08:28

Experimental Metastasis Assay

Published on: August 24, 2010

Understanding metastasis through integrin expression.

L John1, M Pignatelli

  • 1Division of Histopathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK.

Methods in Molecular Medicine
|February 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Integrins are cell surface receptors crucial for cell communication and adhesion. Understanding their structure and function is key to comprehending tumor cell behavior, proliferation, and metastasis.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Integrins are heterodimeric cell surface receptors composed of alpha (α) and beta (β) subunits.
  • Seventeen α- and eight β-subunits combine to form diverse integrin family members with specific ligand-binding capabilities.
  • Integrins mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion, and are implicated in proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and motility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the structure, diversity, and functional specialization of integrin molecules.
  • To discuss scientific methods used to study integrins.
  • To explore the biological significance of differential integrin expression in tumors and its role in tumor cell behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on integrin structure and function.
  • Discussion of common experimental methodologies for integrin research.
  • Analysis of evidence linking integrin expression to tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis.

Main Results:

  • Integrin structure involves noncovalently linked α- and β-subunits, with combinations dictating ligand specificity.
  • Integrins play critical roles in cellular communication, adhesion, and fundamental cellular processes.
  • Evidence strongly supports integrins' involvement in controlling tumor differentiation, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of integrin structure and function is essential for investigating their role in cancer.
  • Differential integrin expression significantly impacts tumor cell behavior and progression.
  • Further research into integrins offers potential for understanding and targeting tumor development.