title: Vinculin association with actin cytoskeleton is necessary for stiffness-dependent regulation of vinculin behavior.
abstract: The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a major regulator of cell behavior. Recent studies have indicated the importance of the physical properties of the ECM, including its stiffness, for cell migration and differentiation. Using actomyosin-generated forces, cells pull the ECM and sense stiffness via cell-ECM adhesion structures called focal adhesions (FAs). Vinculin, an actin-binding FA protein, has emerged as a major player in FA-mediated mechanotransduction. Although vinculin is important for sensing ECM stiffness, the role of vinculin binding to actin in the ECM stiffness-mediated regulation of vinculin behavior remains unknown. Here, we show that an actin binding-deficient mutation disrupts the ECM stiffness-dependent regulation of CSB (cytoskeleton stabilization buffer) resistance and the stable localization of vinculin. These results suggest that the vinculin-actin interaction participates in FA-mediated mechanotransduction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omachi
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.|Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.|Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazumitsu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.|Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2708-537X
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kioka
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D022001:Focal Adhesions; D051379:Mice; D011485:Protein Binding; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D016596:Vinculin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016596:Vinculin