α-Catenin as a tension transducer that induces adherens junction development
Abstract
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 alpha-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 alpha-catenin recruits vinculin, another main actin-binding protein of AJs, through force-dependent changes in alpha-catenin conformation. We identified regions in the alpha-catenin molecule that are required for its force-dependent binding of vinculin by introducing mutant alpha-catenin into cells and using in vitro binding assays. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis for alpha-catenin mobility and the existence of an antibody recognizing alpha-catenin in a force-dependent manner further supported the notion that alpha-catenin is a tension transducer that translates mechanical stimuli into a chemical response, resulting in AJ development.
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Junctions in SG2 are under high mechanical tension, as indicated by staining with α18-antibody that detects a mechanosensitive epitope in α-catenin.
“Staining with α18-antibody (AB) that detects a mechanosensitive epitope in α-catenin13, further indicated that these junctions were under high mechanical tension (Fig. 1c, d; Supplementary Fig. 1b).”
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- Authors
- Yonemura, S., Wada, Y., Watanabe, T., Nagafuchi, A., & Shibata, M.
- Affiliations
- RIKEN (JP)
- Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Yonemura, Shigenobu
- Venue
- Nature Cell Biology
- Published
- 2010-05-09
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 533-542
- ISSN
- 1465-7392 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4679
- OpenAlex
- W1972076214
- Cited by
- 972
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 44 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 65 · 2018: 65 · 2017: 88 · 2016: 73 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 62 · 2013: 63 · 2012: 58
- FWCI
- 26.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (22570188)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Keywords
- alpha-catenin, adherens junctions, vinculin, protein conformational change, actin cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, mechanical signaling, tissue integrity
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cytoskeleton, Microfilament Proteins, Vinculin, Adherens Junctions, alpha Catenin
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