Fig. 2

Molecular interactions of scaffolding/signaling proteins at or near intergrin-associated junctions. Cytoplasmic tails of integrins connect with actin filaments via actin linker proteins such as talin, vinculin, paxillin and α-actinin. The extracellular domains of integrins interact with the extracellular matrix, forming the integrin-associated junctions. Signaling and scaffolding proteins are assembled at or near the integrin-associated junctions upon contractile activation, which facilitates actin polymerization and the mechanotransduction between the contractile unit and the extracellular matrix. Abi1, Abl interactor 1; Abl, Abelson tyrosine kinase; CAS, Crk-associated substrates; CTTN, cortactin; FAK, focal adhesion kinase; GMF-γ, glia maturation factor-γ; HDAC8, histone deacetylase 8; HSP, heat shock protein; ILK, integrin-linked kinase; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; MK2, MAP kinase-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase 2; N-WASP, neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein; PAK, p21-activated kinase; Pfn-1, profilin-1; VASP, vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein