Cell adhesion molecule regulation of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking

Cells undergo processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and survival based upon cues that they receive from their microenvironment. Extracellular matrix adhesion molecules, such as integrins and syndecans, and cell-cell adhesion molecules, including cadherins and Ig superfamily members, convey information about the environment to the cell. It is evident that cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) regulate a variety of signaling events. An emerging theme is that one level of CAM signaling control is through regulated nucleocytoplasmic distribution of molecules that either phosphorylate or co-activate transcription factors. In this manner, CAMs control transcription events that ultimately have a strong impact on cellular processes.