Fibronectin is strongly expressed in the extracellular matrix associated with wound healing. Here, we mimicked the process of wound healing in vitro by scratching a monolayer of cells growing in a culture dish. We used epithelial cells expressing either β1 or β3-type fibronectin-binding integrins.

This picture shows that β3 promotes formation of smooth membrane protrusions into the wound, which we know correlates with persistent movement. By contrast, β1 promotes strong cytoskeletal contractility that leads to the extension of highly dynamic, pointed protrusions and random movement.

By Erik Danen.