Regulation of Integrin Activity by Phosphorylation

Abstract

Integrins are heterodimeric complex type I membrane proteins involved incellular adhesion and signaling. They exist as inactive molecules inresting cells, and need activation to become adhesive. Although much isknown about their structure, and a large number of interacting moleculeshave been described, we still only partially understand how theiractivities are regulated. In this review we focus on theleukocyte-specific beta 2-integrins and, specifically, on the role ofintegrin phosphorylation in the regulation of activity. Phosphorylationreactions can be fast and reversible, thus enabling strictly directedregulatory activities both time-wise and locally in specific regions ofthe plasma membrane in different leukocytes.