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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
Integrins are a large family of adhesion receptors widely expressed on different cell types that participate in cell-matrix, or cell-cell interactions. One of the unique features of integrins is their ability to rapidly regulate their function by a series of conformational changes, rather than through changes in protein expression or trafficking. Because of this unique ability, regular biochemical approaches are often inadequate. In order to be able to study rapid integrin regulation we created a set of unique tools that is based on integrin-specific ligands. These fluorescent probes can be used in real-time flow cytometry to probe integrin conformation on live primary cells, at natural receptor abundance and under real-time signaling conditions. This revolutionary technology allowed us to decipher a complex conformational regulation that is not simply limited to the multiple states of ligand binding affinity or different degrees of molecular extension.
Host: William Hlavacek