Cell-matrix adhesions play essential roles in important biological processes including cell motility, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, regulation of gene expression and cell survival. At the cell-extracellular matrix contact points, specialized structures are formed and termed focal adhesions, where bundles of actin filaments are anchored to transmembrane receptors of the integrin family through a multi-molecular complex of junctional plaque proteins. Some of the constituents of focal adhesions participate in the structural link between membrane receptors and the actin cytoskeleton, while others are signaling molecules, including different protein kinases and phosphatases, their substrates, and various adapter proteins. Integrin signaling is dependent upon the non-receptor tyrosine kinase activities of the FAK and src proteins as well as the adaptor protein functions of FAK, src and Shc to initiate downstream signaling events. These signalling events culminate in reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton; a prerequisite for changes in cell shape and motility, and gene expression. Similar morphological alterations and modulation of gene expression are initiated by the binding of growth factors to their respective receptors, emphasizing the considerable crosstalk between adhesion- and growth factor-mediated signaling.b50c61d8ab72bd6c9ea08bffc3ac43be2d05b3db73a93fedd31FYN; FYN oncogene related to SRC FGR YES [EC:2.7.1.112]SOS1; son of sevenless homolog 1 (Drosophila)RAP1A; RAP1A member of RAS oncogene familyCAV3; caveolin 3SEPP1; selenoprotein P plasmaGRB2; growth factor receptor-bound protein 2RAF1; v-raf-1 murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 [EC:2.7.1.-]ILK; integrin-linked kinase [EC:2.7.1.-]MAPK6; mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 [EC:2.7.1.-]DOCK1; dedicator of cyto-kinesisSHC3; neuronal ShARAF1; v-raf murine sarcoma 3611 viral oncogene homolog 1 [EC:2.7.1.-]MAP2K2; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 [EC:2.7.1.-]MAP2K3; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 [EC:2.7.1.-]BRAF; v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 [EC:2.7.1.-]MAPK1; mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 [EC:2.7.1.-]PTK2; PTK2 protein tyrosine kinase 2 [EC:2.7.1.112VCL; vinculinMAP2K5; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5 [EC:2.7.1.-]RAP1B; RAP1B member of RAS oncogene familyZYX; zyxinSRC; v-src sarcoma (Schmidt-Ruppin A-2) viral oncogene homolog (avian) [EC:2.7.1.112]MAP2K6; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 [EC:2.7.1.-MAPK4; mitogen-activated protein kinase 4 [EC:2.7.1.-]CAV2; caveolin 2CAV1; caveolin 1 caveolae protein 22kDSHC1; SHC (Src homology 2 domain containing) transforming protein 1MAPK7; mitogen-activated protein kinase 7 [EC:2.7.1.-MAP2K1; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 [EC:2.7.1.-]VASP; vasodilator-stimulated phosphoproteinMAPK12; mitogen-activated protein kinase 12 [EC:2.7.1.-]14519391PubMedInteractions between growth factor receptors and adhesion molecules: breaking the rules.Curr Opin Cell Biol2003Comoglio PMBoccaccio CTrusolino L15179030PubMedMitogenic signal transduction by integrin- and growth factor receptor-mediated pathways.Mol Cells2004Lee JWJuliano Rcell adhesion signaling pathwayPW:0000648Pathway Ontology15053919PubMedRegulation of E-cadherin expression and beta-catenin/Tcf transcriptional activity by the integrin-linked kinase.Biochim Biophys Acta2004Oloumi AMcPhee TDedhar S12235283PubMedGet a ligand, get a life: integrins, signaling and cell survival.J Cell Sci2002Stupack DGCheresh DA14756624PubMedIntegrins: structure and signaling.Biochemistry (Mosc)2003Berman AEKozlova NIMorozevich GE15034601PubMedThe mechanism of action of the tumour suppressor gene PTEN.Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub2003Hlobilková AKnillová JBártek JLukás JKolár Z10698680PubMedThe PI3K-PDK1 connection: more than just a road to PKB.Biochem J2000Vanhaesebroeck BAlessi DR15459662PubMedIntegrin signalling during tumour progression.Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol2004Guo WGiancotti FG11573199PubMedFibronectin, integrins, and growth control.J Cell Physiol2001Danen EHYamada KM15108811PubMedMultiple connections link FAK to cell motility and invasion.Curr Opin Genet Dev2004Schlaepfer DDMitra SK14744429PubMedRho and Rac take center stage.Cell2004Burridge KWennerberg K15688067PubMedFocal adhesion kinase: in command and control of cell motility.Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol2005Mitra SKHanson DASchlaepfer DD11229600PubMedFocal adhesions: structure and dynamics.Biol Cell2000Petit VThiery JP12640026PubMedFocal adhesion kinase: the first ten years.J Cell Sci2003Parsons JT11146675PubMedPaxillin and focal adhesion signalling.Nat Cell Biol2000Turner CE11082269PubMedRho GTPases: signaling, migration, and invasion.Exp Cell Res2000Schmitz AAGovek EEBöttner BVan Aelst L11882383PubMedThe protein kinase B/Akt signalling pathway in human malignancy.Cell Signal2002Nicholson KMAnderson NG