Integrins : Cell Movement :: Biology Cell Migration

Cell MigrationWe argon all familiar with the workings of muscles, and we all know how to walk and behave around. But did you know that some of the cadreular phones in your body argon lamentable around too? * Cell migration is a critical process for all(prenominal) type of living organism. Cells in the body will often blend in from place to place to complete their functions. The process of cell migration is important in such things as wound repair and cell differentiation. * Understanding cell migration is also an important part of cancer research. In cancer, cells that normally would not migrate start to move. This is called metastasis, and is the difference between a benign and malignant cancer. Understanding how cells migrate can help us find impertinently cures for cancer and better understand the body.IntegrinsSo, how do cells move exactly? That is thusly a very complicated question, however it can surely be said that no migration could take place without an inte resting set of proteins called Integrins. These proteins are so named because they integrate the function of the cell with the outside world. This exterior neighbourhood is generally known as the Extracellular Matrix, or ECM. The ECM is collected of a wide variety of different molecules that fill in the topographic point between cells. Integrins are transmembrane proteins which bind ligands found in the extracellular matrix. They populate in cells as heterodimers. This fashion they are 2 separate interacting polypeptide chains which are not the same. Here is a drawing of what integrins look standardized The shape of integrins are what is known as a beta barrel. This means that the polypeptide chain wraps around in a barrel shape. This allows the integrin to bind to a greater extent easily to the extracellular matrix. How Integrins WorkIntegrins can be thought of as velcro on the surface of the cell. When the cell is at rest, most of the integrins are inactive, that is to sa y they are have, but do not bind the ligands present in the ECM. Here is a representation of how this worksWhen the cell decides to move, it turns on integrins in certain places, and turns them off in other places. Where this takes place depends on which direction the cell wants to move Integrins on the front of the moving cell grip tightly to the ECM, pulling the cell forward.