title: α-catenin cytomechanics--role in cadherin-dependent adhesion and mechanotransduction.
abstract: The findings presented here demonstrate the role of α-catenin in cadherin-based adhesion and mechanotransduction in different mechanical contexts. Bead-twisting measurements in conjunction with imaging, and the use of different cell lines and α-catenin mutants reveal that the acute local mechanical manipulation of cadherin bonds triggers vinculin and actin recruitment to cadherin adhesions in an actin- and α-catenin-dependent manner. The modest effect of α-catenin on the two-dimensional binding affinities of cell surface cadherins further suggests that force-activated adhesion strengthening is due to enhanced cadherin-cytoskeletal interactions rather than to α-catenin-dependent affinity modulation. Complementary investigations of cadherin-based rigidity sensing also suggest that, although α-catenin alters traction force generation, it is not the sole regulator of cell contractility on compliant cadherin-coated substrata.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801-3709, USA.
authors: Adrienne K
authors: AK
authors: Barry
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Tabdili
authors: Ismaeel
authors: I
authors: Muhamed
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Wu
authors: Nitesh
authors: N
authors: Shashikanth
authors: Guillermo A
authors: GA
authors: Gomez
authors: Alpha S
authors: AS
authors: Yap
authors: Cara J
authors: CJ
authors: Gottardi
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: de Rooij
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Wang
authors: Deborah E
authors: DE
authors: Leckband
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004285:Dogs; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D021381:Protein Transport; D016596:Vinculin / Q000378:metabolism; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D016596:Vinculin
keywords: Adhesion; Cadherin; Mechanotransduction; α-Catenin