INTEGRIN SIGNALING AND CELL-GROWTH CONTROL

Integrins contribute to cell growth by providing a physical linkage be tween cytoskeletal structures and the extracellular matrix, and also b y participating in various signal transduction processes, The interact ion of integrins with matrix ligands can generate signals in and of it self, and can also modulate signals instigated by soluble factors such as peptide mitogens. Cellular events affected by integrin-mediated si gnaling include motility, cell division, differentiation and programme d cell death. Elucidation of how integrin-mediated cell adhesion contr ols cell growth is likely to be of fundamental importance in understan ding complex biological processes, such as tissue morphogenesis and tu mor progression. (C) Current Biology Ltd ISSN 0955-0674.