Unanchoring integrins in focal adhesions

Focal adhesions are large structures through which integrins and scaffold proteins link the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. A detailed analysis of integrin dynamics now indicates that focal-adhesion-associated integrins constantly switch between active and immobilized, and unbound and free-diffusing states, with different fibronectin-binding integrin heterodimers showing distinct focal-adhesion dynamics.