title: Isolated nuclei adapt to force and reveal a mechanotransduction pathway in the nucleus.
abstract: Mechanical forces influence many aspects of cell behaviour. Forces are detected and transduced into biochemical signals by force-bearing molecular elements located at the cell surface, in adhesion complexes or in cytoskeletal structures. The nucleus is physically connected to the cell surface through the cytoskeleton and the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, allowing rapid mechanical stress transmission from adhesions to the nucleus. Although it has been demonstrated that nuclei experience force, the direct effect of force on the nucleus is not known. Here we show that isolated nuclei are able to respond to force by adjusting their stiffness to resist the applied tension. Using magnetic tweezers, we found that applying force on nesprin-1 triggers nuclear stiffening that does not involve chromatin or nuclear actin, but requires an intact nuclear lamina and emerin, a protein of the inner nuclear membrane. Emerin becomes tyrosine phosphorylated in response to force and mediates the nuclear mechanical response to tension. Our results demonstrate that mechanotransduction is not restricted to cell surface receptors and adhesions but can occur in the nucleus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guilluy
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Lukas D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Laurianne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Landeghem
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharek
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Superfine
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Mata
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA [2] Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and UNC McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burridge
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006367:HeLa Cells; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D034881:Nuclear Lamina / Q000502:physiology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C506117:SUN1 protein, human; C413025:SUN2 protein, human; C415465:SYNE1 protein, human; C092710:emerin; C012589:trichostatin A; D004247:DNA; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; C496050:PTK2 protein, human; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl