Final answer:
The proteins key to cell-to-cell attachment and cell locomotion are cadherins, integrins, and selectins; they are essential for forming cell junctions, maintaining cellular shape, and facilitating signal transduction for cell processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The family of proteins involved in cell-to-cell attachment that plays a major role in cell interactions and locomotion are known as cadherins, integrins, and selectins, among others. These proteins are fundamental components of cell junctions like adherens junctions, desmosomes, and focal adhesions.
Cadherins are calcium-dependent adhesins that form adherens junctions, serving as the 'glue' that binds cells together to form cohesive tissues. Integrins are transmembrane receptors that facilitate cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix and are involved in signal transduction. Additionally, many of these cell adhesion molecules are glycoproteins, such as Intercellular Cell Adhesion Molecules (ICAMs), which include NCAMs and selectins.
These proteins not only help maintain cellular shape but also allow for the movement of cells via actin fiber contractions or cytoplasmic extensions. Moreover, they participate in signal transduction pathways that regulate cell migration, differentiation, and fate, with an influence on the actin cytoskeleton's dynamics.