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

Abstract

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.