Rigidity-dependent cross talk between integrin and cadherin signaling.
Integrin-cadherin cross talk is an important aspect of cell function. We explored this signaling using substrates micropatterned with islands of fibronectin surrounded by E-cadherin, capturing the segregation of these signals in normal tissue. While MDCK cells were able to concurrently form adhesive structures with these two proteins, engagement of fibronectin by MCF-7 cells, an adenocarcinoma cell line, inhibited response of these cells to E-cadherin. We further demonstrated that this inhibition is rigidity dependent; on soft elastomer substrates with Young's modulus in the range of tens of kiloPascals, MCF-7 cells were able to engage both integrin and cadherin ligands.
Tsai
Jones
J
Kam
Lance
L
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004285:Dogs; D004548:Elasticity; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; D005353:Fibronectins; D016023:Integrins; D019061:src-Family Kinases