Function
Focal Adhesion kinase is a protein that forms a complex on the cell membrane and is involved in cell adhesion and cell mobility.
Disease
Abnormal function of FAK is associated with cancer.
Relevance
Structural highlights
Focal adhesion kinase has four defined regions, or tertiary structure domains. Two of these domains, the N-terminal FERM domain and the Kinase domain form an auto-inhibitory interaction. This interaction is thought to be the result of hydrophobic interactions between the two domains and prevents the activation of the Kinase domain, FAK, thereby preventing the signalling function of FAK. Release of this auto-inhibitory interaction has been shown to occur within focal adhesions but not in the cytoplasm and therefore is thought to require interaction with focal adhesion proteins, potentially as a result of mechanical forces transmitted through the focal adhesion.
