Matthias Rief

Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy Reveals a High-Force Requirement for Dissociation of Integrin Transmembrane Domains.

Integrins are bidirectional mechanochemical receptors that transmit signals upon ligand binding to the cytoskeleton (outside-in) and cytoskeletal forces back across the membrane (inside-out) to the integrin-ligand bond. Integrins are activated prior to ligand binding, which involves large conformational rearrangements...