Figure 4.

The complexity of adhesion signaling, a protein–protein interaction view. A predicted protein–protein interaction network of adhesion signaling complexes in podocytes. Nodes represent proteins and lines between nodes represent experimentally derived protein–protein interactions. Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are green in color and adhesion signaling proteins are blue in color. Integrins do not have intrinsic enzymatic activity; however, through conformational changes, integrins can recruit tens to hundreds of different proteins to adhesion sites. These adhesion sites are hubs for cellular signaling, controlling all aspects of cell fate. Adhesion signaling is determined by the composition and physical properties of the extracellular matrix.