Biosciences Research Seminar - Evolving views of integrin adhesion

Integrin-mediated cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix has key functions in development and homeostasis. Our work is focused on understanding what happens inside the cell following binding of the transmembrane integrins to their extracellular ligands. Their very short cytoplasmic domains are capable of recruiting many intracellular proteins (15-400, depending on how you count), creating large protein complexes, such as focal adhesions and hemiadherens junctions. We seek to understand how these proteins become highly concentrated in the cell and how they all contribute to integrin function, primarily using genetics and microscopy, aided by biophysics and evolution.