{Reference Type}: Journal Article {Title}: Ligand binding initiates single-molecule integrin conformational activation. {Author}: Li J;Jo MH;Yan J;Hall T;Lee J;López-Sánchez U;Yan S;Ha T;Springer TA; {Journal}: Cell {Volume}: 187 {Issue}: 12 {Year}: 2024 Jun 6 {Factor}: 66.85 {DOI}: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.049 {Abstract}: Integrins link the extracellular environment to the actin cytoskeleton in cell migration and adhesiveness. Rapid coordination between events outside and inside the cell is essential. Single-molecule fluorescence dynamics show that ligand binding to the bent-closed integrin conformation, which predominates on cell surfaces, is followed within milliseconds by two concerted changes, leg extension and headpiece opening, to give the high-affinity integrin conformation. The extended-closed integrin conformation is not an intermediate but can be directly accessed from the extended-open conformation and provides a pathway for ligand dissociation. In contrast to ligand, talin, which links the integrin β-subunit cytoplasmic domain to the actin cytoskeleton, modestly stabilizes but does not induce extension or opening. Integrin activation is thus initiated by outside-in signaling and followed by inside-out signaling. Our results further imply that talin binding is insufficient for inside-out integrin activation and that tensile force transmission through the ligand-integrin-talin-actin cytoskeleton complex is required.