In mammalian cells, vinculin's a membrane-cytoskeletal protein in focal adhesion plaques that's involved in linkage of integrin adhesion molecules to the actin cytoskeleton. Its sequence's 20%-30% similar to α-catenin, which serves a similar function. Binding alternately to talin or α-actinin, vinculin's shape and, as a consequence, its binding properties are changed. The vinculin gene occurs as a single copy and what appears to be no close relative to take over functions in its absen… (More on Vinculin)