Skip to main content

Investigating the interactions between paxillin, vinculin and talin in regulating the dynamics of cell-extracellular matrix adhesions

Laker, Gabriella (2019) Investigating the interactions between paxillin, vinculin and talin in regulating the dynamics of cell-extracellular matrix adhesions. Master of Research (MRes) thesis, University of Kent,. (KAR id:81147)

PDF
Language: English
Download this file
(PDF/6MB)
[thumbnail of 225Investigating_the_interactions_of_paxillin_vinculin_and_talin_in_regulating_t.pdf]
Preview

Abstract

Focal adhesions provide a bi-directional, highly dynamic interface between the extracellular and intracellular environments. The abundance and diversity of proteins recruited to the adhesion sites enable focal adhesions to act as highly efficient mechanosensitive signalling hubs that regulate multiple aspects of cell behaviour including cell movement. Paxillin is one of the proteins identified to localise to focal adhesions. This study explored the interaction of paxillin with the focal dhesionassociated proteins talin, vinculin and focal adhesion kinase, and how such interactions are regulated. Biochemical characterisation using a suite of assays, including fluorescence polarisation, microscale thermophoresis, nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography and pulldowns, identified two novel interactions: 1) the paxillin LIM domains bind talin R9-R12, and 2) multiple paxillin LD motifs cooperatively bind to the head and talin domains of vinculin. We propose a model whereby talin facilitates the localisation of paxillin in proximity of vinculin at adhesions. Once recruited, paxillin functions to control the activation state of vinculin and thus regulate adhesion dynamics, influencing a whole host of cellular activities including cell migration and apopotosis.

Item Type: Thesis (Master of Research (MRes))
Thesis advisor: Goult, Benjamin
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
SWORD Depositor: System Moodle
Depositing User: System Moodle
Date Deposited: 07 May 2020 13:10 UTC
Last Modified: 01 Sep 2022 23:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/81147 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Laker, Gabriella.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.