Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that plays a critical role in cell
motility. Movement and retraction of podocyte foot processes, which accompany podocyte
injury, suggest focal adhesion disassembly. To understand better the mechanisms by which
podocyte foot process effacement leads to proteinuria and kidney failure, we studied the
function of FAK in podocytes. In murine models, glomerular injury led to activation of
podocyte FAK, followed by proteinuria and foot process effacement. Both podocyte-specific …