CGC Bibliography Paper 5508

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK): a regulator of integrin and growth-factor signalling.

Dedhar S, Williams B, Hannigan G

Medline:
Citation:
Trends in Cell Biology 9: 319-323 2002
Type:
REVIEW
Genes:
unc-97
Abstract:
Interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix (ECM) results in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and migration by coordinated signal transduction through integrins and growth-factor receptors. Integrins achieve signaling by interaction with intracellular effectors that couple integrins and growth-factor receptors to downstream components. One well-studied effector is focal-adhesion kinase (FAK), but recently another protein kinase, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), has been identified as a receptor-proximal effector of integrin and growth-factor signaling. ILK appears to interact with and be influenced by a number of different signaling pathways, and this provides new routes for integrin-mediatied signaling. This article discusses ILK structure and function and recent genetic and biochemical evidence about the role of ILK in signal transduction.