The role of integrins during vertebrate development

Abstract

Integrins are transmembrane receptors for extracellular matrix proteins and cell surface proteins that play important roles in cell adhesion and migration, fibronectin matrix assembly and signal transduction. By inhibiting integrin function through the use of antibodies, antisense RNA and homologous recombination to eliminate genes, integrins have been shown to be vital in both early and late embryogenesis. In early development, β 1 integrins have been shown to play a major role in cell migration during gastrulation and neural crest migration. Later in development, integrins are important in neurite extension and muscle differentiation. Thus, many of the functions attributed to integrins in vitro have also been shown to function during embryogenesis.