EN
The cytoskeleton is involved in regulating motile events and properties of the plasma membrane. However, it is now clear that the cytoskeleton can bind signaling molecules, recruiting them adjacent to their substrates, and/or inducing their activation. In platelets, the membrane is lined by a skeleton which in turn associates with membrane glycoproteins. Signaling molecules associate with the membrane skeleton in unstimulated platelets and preliminary evidence suggests that components of the membrane skeleton may become phosphorylated on tyrosine residues when platelets are activated. As adhesion receptors bind their ligands, the membrane skeleton becomes more tightly associated with the underlying actin filaments and additional signaling molecules are recruited to the integrin- cytoskeletal complexes. This article describes the evidence for association of signaling molecules with the platelet cytoskeleton and discusses the potential significance of such interactions.