title: Conserved F-actin dynamics and force transmission at cell adhesions.
abstract: Adhesions are a central mechanism by which cells mechanically interact with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) and neighboring cells. In both cell-ECM and cell-cell adhesions, forces generated within the actin cytoskeleton are transmitted to the surrounding environment and are essential for numerous morphogenic processes. Despite differences in many molecular components that regulate cell-cell and cell-ECM adhesions, the roles of F-actin dynamics and mechanical forces in adhesion regulation are surprisingly similar. Moreover, force transmission at adhesions occurs concomitantly with dynamic F-actin; proteins comprising the adhesion of F-actin to the plasma membrane must accommodate this movement while still facilitating force transmission. Thus, despite different molecular architectures, integrin and cadherin-mediated adhesions operate with common biophysical characteristics to transmit and respond to mechanical forces in multicellular tissue.
authors: Institute for Biophysical Dynamics and James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors: Venkat
authors: V
authors: Maruthamuthu
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Aratyn-Schaus
authors: Margaret L
authors: ML
authors: Gardel
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D021982:Cell-Matrix Junctions; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000199:Actins