title: Head/tail interaction of vinculin influences cell mechanical behavior.
abstract: This study evaluates the influence of vinculin in closed conformation on the mechanical properties of cells. We demonstrate that MEFvin(-/-) cells transfected with the eGFP-vinculin mutant A50I (talin-binding-deficient-vinculin in a constitutively closed conformation) show 2-fold lower stiffness and focal adhesion density compared to MEFvin(+/+) and MEF(Rescue) cells. MEF(A50I) cells are as stiff as MEFvin(-/-) cells with similar focal adhesion density. Further, 2D traction microscopy indicates that MEF(A50I) and MEFvin(-/-) cells generate 3- to 4-fold less strain energy than MEFvin(+/+) and MEF(Rescue) cells. These results demonstrate that vinculin's mechano-coupling function is dependent on its conformational state.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Physics and Technology, Biophysics Group, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Henkestrasse 91, 91052 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerold
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diez
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Auernheimer
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fabry
authors.forename: Wolfgang H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Goldmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D022001:Focal Adhesions; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D051379:Mice; D014162:Transfection; D016596:Vinculin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D016596:Vinculin; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins