α-Catenin as a tension transducer that induces adherens junction development

Abstract

α-Catenin can respond to myosinII-mediated forces in cell–cell junctions through a force-dependent interaction with vinculin that regulates adherens junction development. Adherens junctions (AJs), which are organized by adhesion proteins and the underlying actin cytoskeleton, probably sense pulling forces from adjacent cells and modulate opposing forces to maintain tissue integrity, but the regulatory mechanism remains unknown at the molecular level. Although the possibility that α-catenin acts as a direct linker between the membrane and the actin cytoskeleton for AJ formation and function has been minimized, here we show that α-catenin recruits vinculin, another main actin-binding protein of AJs, through force-dependent changes in α-catenin conformation. We identified regions in the α-catenin molecule that are required for its force-dependent binding of vinculin by introducing mutant α-catenin into cells and using in vitro binding assays. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis for α-catenin mobility and the existence of an antibody recognizing α-catenin in a force-dependent manner further supported the notion that α-catenin is a tension transducer that translates mechanical stimuli into a chemical response, resulting in AJ development.

Cite this article

Yonemura, S., Wada, Y., Watanabe, T. et al. α-Catenin as a tension transducer that induces adherens junction development. Nat Cell Biol 12, 533–542 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb2055

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