Vinculin binding sites are predominantly found in talin and talin-like molecules, enabling binding of vinculin to talin, stabilising integrin-mediated cell-matrix junctions. Talin, in turn, links integrins to the actin cytoskeleton. The consensus sequence for Vinculin binding sites is LxxAAxxVAxxVxxLIxxA, with a secondary structure prediction of four amphipathic helices. The hydrophobic residues that define the VBS are themselves 'masked' and are buried in the core of a series of helical bundles that make up the talin rod [1].

1: Structural and dynamic characterization of a vinculin binding site in the talin rod. Gingras AR, Vogel KP, Steinhoff HJ, Ziegler WH, Patel B, Emsley J, Critchley DR, Roberts GC, Barsukov IL; Biochemistry. 2006;45:1805-1817. PMID:16460027

2: The domain structure of talin: Residues 1815-1973 form a five-helix bundle containing a cryptic vinculin-binding site. Goult BT, Gingras AR, Bate N, Barsukov IL, Critchley DR, Roberts GC; FEBS Lett. 2010; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:20399778