Tension-sensitive actin assembly supports contractility at the epithelial zonula adherens.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Background
Actomyosin-based contractility acts on cadherin junctions to support tissue integrity and morphogenesis. The actomyosin apparatus of the epithelial zonula adherens (ZA) is built by coordinating junctional actin assembly with Myosin II activation. However, the physical interaction between Myosin and actin filaments that is necessary for contractility can induce actin filament turnover, potentially compromising the contractile apparatus itself.Results
We now identify tension-sensitive actin assembly as one cellular solution to this design paradox. We show that junctional actin assembly is maintained by contractility in established junctions and increases when contractility is stimulated. The underlying mechanism entails the tension-sensitive recruitment of vinculin to the ZA. Vinculin, in turn, directly recruits Mena/VASP proteins to support junctional actin assembly. By combining strategies that uncouple Mena/VASP from vinculin or ectopically target Mena/VASP to junctions, we show that tension-sensitive actin assembly is necessary for junctional integrity and effective contractility at the ZA.Conclusions
We conclude that tension-sensitive regulation of actin assembly represents a mechanism for epithelial cells to resolve potential design contradictions that are inherent in the way that the junctional actomyosin system is assembled. This emphasizes that maintenance and regulation of the actin scaffolds themselves influence how cells generate contractile tension.Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Leerberg, JM; Gomez, GA; Verma, S; Moussa, EJ; Wu, SK; Priya, R; Hoffman, BD; Grashoff, C; Schwartz, MA; Yap, AS
Published Date
- August 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 24 / 15
Start / End Page
- 1689 - 1699
PubMed ID
- 25065757
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC5103636
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1879-0445
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0960-9822
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.028
Language
- eng