Fig. 3

Schematic of laminin-integrin interactions. Laminins in the ECM bind to their cognate cell surface receptors, integrins which are transmembrane proteins consisting of non-covalently linked αβ heterodimers. Integrins perform two vital functions: (i) the cytoplasmic domain of β subunits bind to the cytoplasmic adaptor proteins talin, vinculin and α-actinin to form a transmembrane link between the ECM and the actin cytoskeleton, and (ii) the cytoplasmic domain of β subunits also bind several different cytoplasmic signaling proteins including focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and integrin-linked kinase (ILK) to trigger intracellular signaling cascades