© 2002 Elsevier
Integrin activation unbends the molecule either by ligand binding or by effects on the cytoplasmic domains which straightens and separates the legs of the molecule. This exposes activation epitopes (red stars) and enables internalization of the signal. Two models for the proposed straightening are shown in B. The switchblade or flick-knife model and the angle-poise model differ in the way in which the C-termini of the legs relate to the transmembrane segments. (From R.O. Hynes,
Integrins serve as the cell's conduit to the outside world, sensing the external environment and passing on instructions: differentiate or not, adhere or move on, live or die. Their roles in controlling cell behavior, coupled with their cell-surface location, have made them highly attractive drug targets. But while researchers have made significant progress tracing integrin-related cell-signaling pathways, critical gaps remain.
In February, Elan and Biogen Idec halted trials of ...
