Structural basis of syndecan-4 activation by fibronectin

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Sticking, or adhesion, of cells, either to other cells or to the tissue proteins that surround them in the body, is a vital part of multicellular life. Adhesion is needed for holding the body together and for keeping cells in the right place. During the course of many diseases, adhesion is used by cells to move abnormally throughout the body. Consequently, drugs that control adhesion might be useful for treating cardiovascular diseases, asthma, cancer, bacterial infections and ulcers. The work proposed in this application uses a combination of techniques to solve the structure of some important adhesive proteins. If successful, the work will help us to understand more about how the molecules involved in adhesion work. It might also suggest ways to design drugs to control adhesion or to engineer tissues.