CuboCube: Student creation of a cancer genetics e-textbook using open-access software for social learning.

Student creation of educational materials has the capacity both to enhance learning and to decrease costs. Three successive honors-style classes of undergraduate students in a cancer genetics class worked with a new software system, CuboCube, to create an e-textbook. CuboCube is an open-source learning materials creation system designed to facilitate e-textbook development, with an ultimate goal of improving the social learning experience for students.

Grb2 promotes integrin-induced focal adhesion kinase (FAK) autophosphorylation and directs the phosphorylation of protein tyrosine phosphatase α by the Src-FAK kinase complex.

The integrin-activated Src-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) kinase complex phosphorylates PTPα at Tyr789, initiating PTPα-mediated signaling that promotes cell migration. Recruitment of the BCAR3-Cas complex by PTPα-phospho-Tyr789 at focal adhesions is one mechanism of PTPα signaling. The adaptor protein Grb2 is also recruited by PTPα-phospho-Tyr789, although the role of the PTPα-Grb2 complex in integrin signaling is unknown.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase α phosphotyrosyl-789 binds BCAR3 to position Cas for activation at integrin-mediated focal adhesions.

Integrin-mediated focal adhesions connect the extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton to regulate cell responses, such as migration. Protein tyrosine phosphatase α (PTPα) regulates integrin signaling, focal adhesion formation, and migration, but its roles in these events are incompletely understood. The integrin-proximal action of PTPα activates Src family kinases, and subsequent phosphorylation of PTPα at Tyr789 acts in an unknown manner to promote migration.