General Description
Vinculin (VCL) is a ubiquitously expressed cytoskeletal protein, encoded by the gene mapped to human chromosome 10q11.2-qter. VCL is a vital element of adherens type cell junctions. Vinculin structure contains a globular head connected to a tail domain by a short proline-rich sequence, and an intramolecular interaction between the head and tail hides the various ligand-binding sites in the protein.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Vinculin (VCL) is a cytoskeletal protein that supports cell-to-cell and cell to matrix junctions. It is also essentially involved in normal embryonic development and cardiac function, due to its role in controlling adhesion and motility, as well as cell spreading.In mature focal adhesions (FAs), VCL acts as an important constituent of the “molecular clutch” that induces the transmission of force from cytoplasmic F-actin to membrane-bound integrins. Aberration or mutation of VCL leads to cardiomyopathy, which is associated with hypertension. Experimental studies reveal that, VCL might be used as a biomarker of aging or heart failure. Vinculin associates with FAs and assists in several cellular functions, such as stabilizing and strengthening FAs and promoting their maturation, extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanosensing, regulating actin cytoskeletal dynamics and signaling pathways involved in apoptosis.
