title: Cell biology: a tense but good day for actin at cell-cell junctions.
abstract: Cells have evolved an elegant tuning mechanism to maintain tissue integrity, in which increasing mechanical tension stimulates actin assembly at cell-cell junctions. The mechanosensitive junctional protein α-catenin acts through vinculin and Ena/VASP proteins to reinforce the cell against mechanical stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Nowotarski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: peifer@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peifer
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology*; D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins