RESEARCH INTERESTS
Regulation of epithelial cell adhesion and migration.
Regulation of cell adhesion and migration during morphogeneses, focusing on the effects of extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors on the expression and function of integrins. The relationship between integrins and Ras-homologue small molecular weight GTPases from the Rho family (RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42H), regulators of F-Actin assembly is also being studied.
RELEVANT PAPERS
Zheng, Y.; Fischer, D.J.; Santos, M.F.; Tigyi.; G.; Pasteris, N.G.; Gorski, J.L.; XU, Y. The fasciogenital displasia FGD1 functions as a Cdc42Hs-specific exchange factor. J. Biol. Chem., 271: 33169-172, 1996.
Santos, M.F.; McCormack, S.A.; GUO, Z.; Okolicany, J., Zheng, Y.; Johnson, L.R.; Tigyi, G. Rho proteins play a critical role in cell migration during the early phase of mucosal restitution. J. Clin. Invest, 100(1): 216-25, 1997.
Santos, M.F.; Viar, M.J.; McCormack, S.A.; Johnson, L.R. Polyamines are important for the attachment of IEC-6 cells to extracellular matrix. Am. J. Physiol. 273(1): G175-G183, 1997.
