Multi-level molecular clutches in motile cell processes.
Trends in Cell Biology. 2009-09-01; 19(9): 475-486
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2009.07.001
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1. Trends Cell Biol. 2009 Sep;19(9):475-86. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2009.07.001. Epub
2009 Aug 26.
Multi-level molecular clutches in motile cell processes.
Giannone G(1), Mège RM, Thoumine O.
Author information:
(1)CNRS UMR 5091, Institut Magendie, Université Bordeaux 2, 33077 Bordeaux,
France.
To trigger cell motility, forces generated by the cytoskeleton must be
transmitted physically to the external environment through transmembrane adhesion
molecules. One model put forward twenty years ago to describe this process is the
molecular clutch by which a modular interface of adaptor proteins mediates a
dynamic mechanical connection between the actin flow and cell adhesion complexes.
Recent optical imaging experiments have identified key clutch molecules linked to
specific chemical and mechanical signal transduction pathways, particularly
regarding integrins in migrating cells, IgCAMs in neuronal growth cones, and
cadherins at intercellular junctions. We propose here the concept of a
multi-level clutch as a useful analogy to grasp the complexity of the dynamic
molecular interactions involved in a panel of motile behaviors and shapes.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2009.07.001
PMID: 19716305 [Indexed for MEDLINE]