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Published on: June 13, 2014
Endosomes: Emerging Platforms for Integrin-Mediated FAK Signalling
Jonna Alanko1, Johanna Ivaska2
1Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.
Abstract:
Integrins are vital cell adhesion receptors with the ability to transmit extracellular matrix (ECM) cues to intracellular signalling pathways. ECM-integrin signalling regulates various cellular functions such as cell survival and movement. Integrin signalling has been considered to occur exclusively from adhesion sites at the plasma membrane (PM). However, recent data demonstrates integrin signalling also from endosomes. Integrin-mediated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signalling is strongly dependent on integrin endocytosis, and endosomal FAK signalling facilitates cancer metastasis by supporting anchorage-independent growth and anoikis resistance. Here we discuss the possible mechanisms and functions of endosomal FAK signalling compared with its previously known roles in other cellular locations and discuss the potential of endosomal FAK as novel target for future cancer therapies.
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