Cell adhesion. The minimal cadherin-catenin complex binds to actin filaments under force.

Craig D Buckley, Jiongyi Tan, Karen L Anderson, Dorit Hanein, Niels Volkmann, William I Weis, W James Nelson, Alexander R Dunn

Science (New York, N.Y.) 2014 Oct 31

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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. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Citation

Craig D Buckley, Jiongyi Tan, Karen L Anderson, Dorit Hanein, Niels Volkmann, William I Weis, W James Nelson, Alexander R Dunn. Cell adhesion. The minimal cadherin-catenin complex binds to actin filaments under force. Science (New York, N.Y.). 2014 Oct 31;346(6209):1254211