Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Abbreviations
ATP
adenosine tri-phosphate
ECM
extracellular matrix
ER
estrogen receptor
FAK
focal adhesion kinase
FAT
focal adhesion targeting domain
MAPK
mitogen-activated protein kinase
SDS-PAGE
sodium-dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
SH2
Src-homology 2 domain
Y
tyrosine
Key Facts about the Detection of Phosphorylated Adhesion
Proteins
1. Phospho-specii c antibodies can be used to measure the activation of
adhesion signalling pathways.
2. h e available phospho-specii c antibodies for the adhesion proteins Src, FAK,
paxillin and p130Cas work well for immunblot and immunol uorescence.
3. Both Src and FAK phospho-specii c antibodies have been used successfully
on patient-derived tissues including tumour material.
4. Phospho-specii c Src and FAK antibodies that detect Src pY418 and FAK
pY397 respectively provide a readout for enzymatic activity.
5. Phospho-specii c antibodies may be used to monitor adhesion protein
phosphorylation as a biomarker for the ei cacy of anti-Src, anti-FAK and
anti-integrin therapeutics.
Definition of Terms
Angiogenesis:
h e formation of new blood vessels.
Apoptosis:
A regulated series of programmed biochemical cellular events in the cells,
culminating in death. Most cancer cells become resistant to apoptosis.
Focal adhesions:
Macromolecular structures comprising clusters of ligated and cross-linked
integrin receptors together with their associated signalling partners.
Integrin receptor:
Transmembrane receptors composed of one α and one β subunit. h e
receptors bind to the extracellular matrix on the external surface and internally bind to
the actin cytoskeleton and a broad array of signalling molecules.
Kinases:
Enzymes that catalyse phosphorylation.
Metastasis:
h e dissemination of tumour cells away from the primary tumour site and
subsequent formation of secondary tumours at distal sites.
