title: Cell adhesion. The minimal cadherin-catenin complex binds to actin filaments under force.
abstract: Linkage between the adherens junction (AJ) and the actin cytoskeleton is required for tissue development and homeostasis. In vivo findings indicated that the AJ proteins E-cadherin, β-catenin, and the filamentous (F)-actin binding protein αE-catenin form a minimal cadherin-catenin complex that binds directly to F-actin. Biochemical studies challenged this model because the purified cadherin-catenin complex does not bind F-actin in solution. Here, we reconciled this difference. Using an optical trap-based assay, we showed that the minimal cadherin-catenin complex formed stable bonds with an actin filament under force. Bond dissociation kinetics can be explained by a catch-bond model in which force shifts the bond from a weakly to a strongly bound state. These results may explain how the cadherin-catenin complex transduces mechanical forces at cell-cell junctions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Craig D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Jiongyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics and Structural Systems Biology Program, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics and Structural Systems Biology Program, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hanein
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics and Structural Systems Biology Program, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Volkmann
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.|Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.|Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: William I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Weis
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.|Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: W James
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.|Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.|Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051177:Catenins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins