Structure and function of the p130^Cas-related protein family

Abstract

Adhesive interactions play a critical role in inflammation and the immune response by regulating dynamic cellular processes including adhesion, migration, recognition, activation, proliferation, and even apoptosis. Aberration in such interactions can lead to chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune diseases. These adhesive interactions act through the regulation of intracellular signal transduction pathways, which have been intensively studied in the last decade. Understanding such signaling pathways is essential not only to elucidate how adhesive interactions regulate cell behavior, but also to gain important insight into the pathophysiology of various diseases and to identify novel therapeutic targets. p130^Cas and its related proteins play a significant role in integrin-mediated cell adhesion. Recent success in generating mutant mice lacking p130^Cas has provided insight into the central function of this molecule. This article will focus on recent advances in our understanding of structure and function of this unique protein family.

Key words::

• p130^Cas
• signal transduction
• integrin
• transformation
• T-cell activation