title: A plastic relationship between vinculin-mediated tension and adhesion complex area defines adhesion size and lifetime.
abstract: Cell-matrix adhesions are central mediators of mechanotransduction, yet the interplay between force and adhesion regulation remains unclear. Here we use live cell imaging to map time-dependent cross-correlations between vinculin-mediated tension and adhesion complex area, revealing a plastic, context-dependent relationship. Interestingly, while an expected positive cross-correlation dominated in mid-sized adhesions, small and large adhesions display negative cross-correlation. Furthermore, although large changes in adhesion complex area follow vinculin-mediated tension alterations, small increases in area precede vinculin-mediated tension dynamics. Modelling based on this mapping of the vinculin-mediated tension-adhesion complex area relationship confirms its biological validity, and indicates that this relationship explains adhesion size and lifetime limits, keeping adhesions focal and transient. We also identify a subpopulation of steady-state adhesions whose size and vinculin-mediated tension become stabilized, and whose disassembly may be selectively microtubule-mediated. In conclusion, we define a plastic relationship between vinculin-mediated tension and adhesion complex area that controls fundamental cell-matrix adhesion properties.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Novum, Hälsovägen 7, Huddinge SE 141 83, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hernández-Varas
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Novum, Hälsovägen 7, Huddinge SE 141 83, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Berge
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Novum, Hälsovägen 7, Huddinge SE 141 83, Sweden.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lock
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Novum, Hälsovägen 7, Huddinge SE 141 83, Sweden.
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strömblad
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D016596:Vinculin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C488955:VCL protein, human; C119741:microtububle assembly protein 49, Nicotiana tabacum; D016596:Vinculin