Focal adhesion targeting region

In molecular biology, the focal adhesion targeting region is a conserved domain found on focal adhesion kinases. Focal adhesion kinases (FAK) are tyrosine kinases found in focal adhesions, intracellular signalling complexes that are formed following engagement of the extracellular matrix by integrins. The C-terminal focal adhesion targeting (FAT) region is necessary and sufficient for localizing FAK to focal adhesions. The crystal structure of FAT shows it forms a four-helix bundle that resembles those found in two other proteins involved in cell adhesion, alpha-catenin and vinculin. The binding of FAT to the focal adhesion protein, paxillin, requires the integrity of the helical bundle, whereas binding to another focal adhesion protein, talin, does not.