Focal Adhesions

Focal adhesions are protein complexes that are essential for several cellular processes. They are located at the interface between the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton, and their function is to transmit the force generated by the cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane. This mechanical force is important for many cellular activities, such as cell shape and motility, cell attachment to the extracellular matrix and cell adhesion. Focal adhesions also act as a signalling hub, sending and receiving biochemical signals from other cellular components, such as the plasma membrane. These signals control processes such as cell migration and differentiation, as well as many other essential cellular functions. Focal adhesions are therefore important for the maintenance of normal cellular physiology and are implicated in many human diseases, including cancer.