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. 2024 Apr 3;9:15. doi: 10.1038/s41536-024-00359-x

Fig. 2. Integrin receptors influence cellular metabolism through ECM sensing.

Fig. 2

a Soft ECM activates the Rho-mDia signalling cascade leading to increased lipid synthesis by accumulating SREBP at the Golgi apparatus that in turn after being cleaved can upregulate the expression of HMG-CoA and LDL receptor for the mevalonate and lipid synthesis pathway. Additionally, soft ECM regulates the integrin co-receptor CD98hc to import sphingolipids which helps in increasing the lipid content in the cell and therefore also the Rho recruitment to the cell membrane. b Stiff ECM activates the Rho-ROCK signalling cascade leading to higher glycolytic rates by on one hand inhibiting the degradation of phosphofructokinase (PFK) and on the other hand inhibiting AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and stimulating Na+/H+ exchangers to promote higher pH for elevated glycolytic flux. ALDO aldolase, DAG diacylglycerol, DHAP dihydroxyacetone phosphate, F1,6BP fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, G3P glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, HMG-CoA β-hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-CoA, LDL low-density lipoprotein, LPIN1 phosphatidate phosphatase lipin 1, mTOR mammalian target of rapamycin. Created with BioRender.com.