Minireview: Integral membrane proteins that function coordinately with the insulin-like growth factor I receptor to regulate intracellular signaling.

Integral membrane proteins that are present on cell surfaces bind to extracellular ligands, and this binding influences multiple cellular processes. Three cell surface proteins, alpha V beta 3 integrin, integrin associated protein, and SHPS-1, have been shown to modulate both IGF-I receptor-linked signaling and cellular growth and migration responses that are stimulated by IGF-I. Ligand occupancy of these three proteins influences the recruitment of the phosphatase SHP-2 to the IGF-I receptor and thereby modulates the duration of IGF-I receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. In addition, changes in ligand occupancy of these three integral membrane proteins can regulate the transfer of SHP-2 phosphatase to downstream signaling molecules, which is also required for stimulation of cell migration and DNA synthesis by IGF-I. Determination of the spectrum of ligands for these three integral membrane proteins and the mechanisms by which each ligand functions to alter IGF-I signaling are important objectives of future research.