How Do Cells Make Decisions: Engineering Micro- and Nanoenvironments for Cell Migration

Figure 3

Integrin and VEGF-receptor signalling. Focal adhesions (FAs) are large complexes, which consist of integrins and VEGF-receptors (VEGFR). The 𝛼- and 𝛽-subunit of integrins bind to the tripeptide arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) in fibronectin and other proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This induces a signalling cascade that ultimately leads to restructuring of the actin skeleton and cell migration. Activation of integrins induces phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) by the receptor tyrosine kinase Src. Paxillin is a focaladhesion associated adaptor protein. It interacts with several other focal adhesion proteins such as talin, tensin and vinculin. P130Cas is an adaptor protein that induces signalling cascades involving ERK. VEGFR translocates to focal adhesions after stimulation with VEGF and initiates a signalling cascade, which contributes to focal adhesion organization and actin restructuring.