Assembly and mechanosensory function of focal contacts

Focal contacts, focal complexes and related extracellular matrix adhesions are used by cells to explore their environment. These sites act as mechanos ensory 'devices', where internal contractile forces or externally applied f orce can regulate the assembly of the adhesion site and trigger adhesion-de pendent signaling involving Rho-family small G-proteins and other signaling pathways. The molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are discusse d.