Daniel Rösel

• Mission: To elucidate of molecular mechanisms of tumor transformation and invasive properties of tumor cells.
• Vision: Identify and therapeutically target molecular mechanisms responsible for metastasis.

Integrins are bidirectional transmitters of biochemical signals and mechanical force between the cytoskeleton and the ECM. Interactions between integrins and ECM components initiate signal transduction pathways that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and movement. Therefore, deregulation of integrin signaling is frequently associated with the initiation, progression, and metastasis of solid tumors. Because integrins lack enzymatic activity, their signaling is mediated by an indirect mechanism involving integrin clustering that leads to the recruitment and activation of associated kinases such as Src and scaffolding molecules, such as p130CAS. The Integrin signaling group studies various aspects of integrin signaling, focusing on the regulation of the proto-oncogene c-src, the structure and dynamics of cancer cell adhesion structures, and mechanosignaling mediated by Src kinase and adaptor protein p130CAS.