The SIGnaling Network
Open Resource

Pathway ID: SIGNOR-IS

Description: Integrins are not only adhesion receptors but also key regulators of cell signaling, integrating cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM) with intracellular pathways and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Upon binding to ECM components, integrins activate focal adhesion complexes and kinases such as FAK and SRC. This leads to the recruitment of adaptor proteins like GRB2, which connect integrin activation to major signaling cascades such as the RAS–MAPK pathway, promoting cell proliferation. Integrins also cooperate closely with RTKs by sharing signaling intermediates such as GAB1 and PI3K. For example, the recruitment of GAB1 can modulate RTK activity and enhance downstream PI3K–AKT signaling, supporting cell survival. At the same time, integrins regulate cytoskeletal organization and cell migration through SRC-dependent pathways, while influencing gene expression via MAPK signaling. Overall, integrins function as central hubs that coordinate signals from the cellular environment with growth factor pathways, ultimately controlling processes such as proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation.

Curated by: Marta Iannuccelli

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