The two peptide chains of an integrin receptor (left), colored red and blue, extend through the cell membrane into the extracellular space. When bound to the common form of a ligand-mimicking molecule, the integrin becomes activated (center), changing its shape and causing the cell to become sticky. Binding the high-affinity form of the molecule, FN10 (right), does not cause the integrin to shape-shift, blocking its activation.
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