Background：

Layilin is a recently cloned ～55-kDa membrane-binding partner for talin (Borowsky and Hynes， 1998 ) that is widely expressed in different cell types and tissue extracts. It is found in peripheral ruffles of spreading cells and is recruited to membrane ruffles in cells induced to migrate in in vitro wounding experiments. Layilin colocalizes with talin in ruffles and binds to talin’s ～50-kDa head domain (amino acids 280–435). Other parts of talin (the ～220-kDa tail fragment) can bind β-integrin cytoplasmic tails， vinculin， and F-actin and hence form an integrin-cytoskeleton linkage at sites of cell-substratum contact. Layilin’s extracellular domain is homologous with the carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRD) of C-type lectins.