How inside meets outside: Guidebook to the Extracellular Matrix, Anchor, and Adhesion Proteins (2nd edn) edited by Thomas Kreis and Ronald Vale

Oxford University Press, 1999. $34.95 (384 pages)ISBN 0 19 859958 7How cells interact and communicate with the extracellular matrix and other cells are fundamental topics in cell biology. Studies over the past few decades, and particularly those in recent years, have led to a much better understanding of the basic molecular structures that provide the physical linkages across the plasma membrane. As might be expected from the complexity of this issue, many proteins have been identified that are involved in the assembly and disassembly of these structures and the transduction of signals through them. The characterization of these proteins at molecular, cellular and whole-organism levels has provided an ever-increasing amount of information that is important for understanding not only the structures but also the signalling mechanisms and functions of the cell–matrix and cell–cell junctions. Thus, an authoritative summary of this large body of information is needed for researchers who are active in this or a related and for students who are interested in gaining an understanding of this important field. The second edition of the Guidebook to the Extracellular Matrix, Anchor, and Adhesion Proteins fulfils such a need.The book is divided into three parts based primarily (although not exclusively) on the subcellular localization of the proteins considered. Part 1 describes more than twenty cytoskeleton-associated proteins (or protein families) that either constitute or regulate the cytoskeleton–membrane anchorage structures. Part 2 covers all major types of cell adhesion receptors and several proteins associated closely with them. Part 3 focuses on proteins found in extracellular matrices and the proteinases that hydrolyse them. Each part starts with a general introduction, followed by concise descriptions of specific proteins or topics of special interest. The introductions are well written and will be very useful for readers who wish to get a quick overview of the current understanding of the topical areas. The descriptions on specific proteins or topics are written by leading investigators in the fields, and, despite their conciseness, they contain a wealth of information that is up to date and often insightful, and should serve as a starting point for anyone who wishes to learn the specifics of the proteins. A good example is the descriptions of integrins and integrin-signalling pathways. Integrins are a large family (twenty-two members in human) of α-β dimeric transmembrane proteins that participate in a variety of cellular processes including mediating cell adhesion, migration, pericellular matrix assembly and regulation of cell proliferation, survival, differentiation and gene expression. Since the introduction of the term integrin fourteen years ago1xStructure of integrin, a glycoprotein involved in the transmembrane linkage between fibronectin and actin. Tamkun, J.W. et al. Cell. 1986; 46: 271–282Abstract | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (312)See all References1, approximately 10000 papers have been published describing the structures and functions of integrins in species ranging from worm to human. Within only a few pages, Martin Hemler (p. 196) has successfully summarized the major properties of this large family of cell adhesion receptors. Signalling by means of integrins is an important area that has drawn a lot of interest in recent years. Michael J. Dans and Filippo G. Giancotti (p. 134) provide an insightful discussion on the central theme of integrin signalling and the major signalling pathways used by integrins. Similar examples can be found throughout the book.Another useful feature of this Guidebook is the large number of microscopic images and drawings that illustrate clearly the structures or functions of the proteins considered. For example, the fluorescence images in the descriptions on Rho, Rac and Cdc42 contributed by Alan Hall (pp. 72–78) reveal in a striking way the distinct roles of the different small GTPases in the assembly of specific membrane–cytoskeleton anchorage structures. The drawings in the introduction by Alexander Bershadsky and Benjamin Geiger (p. 3) illustrate the contributions of numerous cytoskel-eton-associated or transmembrane proteins to the formation of different cell–cell and cell–matrix junctions, which will be appreciated by readers who are new to the area.I was preparing lectures on integrins and cytoskeleton for a graduate-level course when I first came across this Guidebook. I was delighted to find that it contains a number of topics that I planned to cover. The texts are generally well referenced and most of the drawings are well designed and easy to understand. Thus, the Guidebook is not only a valuable reference book for cell biologists who wish to keep abreast of the latest advances in this rapidly evolving field but also a useful tool for students who wish to learn how cells interact and communicate with extracellular matrix and other cells at the molecular level.