Integrins and Ion Channels

1. Integrin Structure and Functional Relation with Ion ChannelsAnnarosa Arcangeli and Andrea BecchettiAbstractIntroductionFundamentals of Integrin StructurePhysiological and Pathological Implications: an Outline of Current TrendsConclusion2. Introduction to Ion ChannelsChiara Di Resta and Andrea BecchettiAbstractIntroductionThe Physiology of Ion ChannelsIon Channel Types Involved in Integrin?Mediated SignalingConclusion3. Biochemical Methods to Study the Interactions Between Integrins and Ion ChannelsOlivia CrocianiAbstractIntroductionYeast Two?Hybrid ScreeningAffinity?Based Screening: IP AssaysPull?Down AssayPhotoaffinity Labeling Techniques for Studying Transient Protein?ProteinInteractionFar Western Blot Analysis (Far WB)High?Throughput Protein?Protein Interaction Analysis, Followed by V alidation of Candidate Interactors through Different Experimental ApproachesPast and Future Application of Biochemical Approaches to Characterizethe Interactions between Integrins and Ion Channels4. Optical Methods in the Study of Protein?Protein InteractionsAlessio Masi, Riccardo Cicchi, Adolfo Carloni, Francesco Saverio Pavoneand Annarosa ArcangeliAbstractIntroductionFörster Resonance Energy Transfer: The "Molecular Ruler"Intensity Versus Lifetime: Two Ways to Measure FRETTotal Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM) and Imagingof Membrane ProteinsAntibody?Based Versus Fusion Protein?Based FRET: PrinciplesAntibody?Based Versus Fusion Protein?Based FRET: Advantages and DisadvantagesApplication of Optical Methods to the Study of Integrins and Ion ChannelsConclusion5. Integrins and Signal TransductionSara Cabodi, Paola Di Stefano, Maria del Pilar Camacho Leal, Agata Tinnirello, Brigitte Bisaro, Virginia Morello, Laura Damiano, Simona Aramu,Daniele Repetto, Giusy Tornillo and Paola DefilippiAbstractOverview of Integrin StructureThe SFK?Fak?p130Cas SignalingConclusion6. Physical andFunctional Interaction between Integrins and hERG1 Channels in Cancer CellsSerena

ANDREA BECCHETTI, PhD, is Professor of General, Comparative and Cellular Physiology at the Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences of the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy. After receiving his academic degrees at the University of Milan, he has spent prolonged research sojourns at the Department of General Pathology of the University of Florence, Italy, the Department of Physiology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the Department of Physiological Sciences of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and the Biophysics Sector of the International School for Advanced Studies (ISAS-SISSA), in Trieste, Italy.His current research interests include the role of ion channels in cell adhesion and proliferation, the nicotinic modulation of synaptic transmission in the mammalian cerebral cortex and the pathogenesis of sleep-related epileptic forms linked to mutant human nicotinic receptors. Andrea Becchetti is member of the Society of General Physiologists, Biophysical Society, Society for Neuroscience and the Italian Physiological Society.

ANNAROSA ARCANGELI, MD, PhD is Professor of General Pathology and Immunology at the Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology of the University of Firenze (Florence, Italy). She is the Scientific Director of the Laboratory of Genetic Engineering for the Production of Animal Models of the University of Firenze. After receiving her MD degree at the University of Firenze, she spent several research sojourns at the Department of Physiology of the University of Milano, at the Institut d'Embriologie Cellulaire et Moleculaire, Nogent sur Marne, Paris, France and at the MRC-LMB Centre of Cambridge, UK. Her main research interests include the role of ion channels, in particular potassium channels, in the regulation of different aspects of tumor cell behaviour, including the cross talk with adhesion receptors, as well as the identification of ion channels as novel targets for cancer therapy. Annarosa Arcangeli is member