Engineering of extracellular matrix proteins : Integrin specific fibronectin fragment for mesenchymal stem cells differentiation and design of fibronectin-laminin fusion protein

[...] This project focuses on specific α5β1 integrin (α5β1) activation, because its crucial roles in differentiation and in adhesion have already been studied. The project is articulated in two related parts. The first and main one is dedicated to specific α5β1 activation with the goal of controlling cell differentiation. The second and minor part focuses on the engineering of a fusion protein capable of activating both receptors simultaneously if close enough. [... click on "Download fulltext" for full abstract]