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. b50 c61 d8a b72 bd6 c9e a08 bff c3a c43 be2 d05 b3d b73 a93 fed d31 FYN; 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 family CAV3; caveolin 3 SEPP1; selenoprotein P plasma GRB2; growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 RAF1; 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-kinesis SHC3; neuronal Sh ARAF1; 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:2.7.1.112 VCL; vinculin MAP2K5; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5 [EC:2.7.1.-] RAP1B; RAP1B member of RAS oncogene family ZYX; zyxin SRC; 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 2 CAV1; caveolin 1 caveolae protein 22kD SHC1; SHC (Src homology 2 domain containing) transforming protein 1 MAPK7; mitogen-activated protein kinase 7 [EC:2.7.1.- MAP2K1; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 [EC:2.7.1.-] VASP; vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein MAPK12; mitogen-activated protein kinase 12 [EC:2.7.1.-] 14519391 PubMed Interactions between growth factor receptors and adhesion molecules: breaking the rules. 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