mBio (Apr 2021)

The Transmembrane Mucin MUC1 Facilitates β1-Integrin-Mediated Bacterial Invasion

  • Xinyue Li,
  • Richard W. Wubbolts,
  • Nancy M. C. Bleumink-Pluym,
  • Jos P. M. van Putten,
  • Karin Strijbis

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.03491-20
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 2

Abstract

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Bacteria can exploit membrane receptor integrins for cellular invasion, either by direct binding of bacterial adhesins or utilizing extracellular matrix components. MUC1 is a large transmembrane glycoprotein expressed by most epithelial cells that can have direct defensive or receptor functions at the host-microbe interface and is involved in facilitating integrin clustering.