Mechanosensitivity and compositional dynamics of cell-matrix adhesions
Herbert B Schiller1, Reinhard Fässler
1Department of Molecular Medicine, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
EMBO Reports
|May 18, 2013
Summary
Cells sense their environment via cell-matrix adhesions, where protein complexes called the adhesome assemble dynamically. Mechanical forces influence protein recruitment and signaling within these crucial cellular structures.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Mechanobiology
Background:
- Cells interact with their tissue microenvironment via integrin-mediated cell-matrix adhesions.
- These adhesions link the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix, enabling tissue cohesion and mechanical connections.
- The dynamic assembly of proteins, known as the 'adhesome', is crucial for cell-matrix adhesion and integrin signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the compositional dynamics of cell-matrix adhesions.
- To discuss functional domains within adhesome proteins.
- To explore mechanosensing mechanisms at the adhesion site.
Main Methods:
- Literature review integrating biophysical methods and proteomics data.
- Analysis of protein recruitment dependent on mechanical tension.
- Examination of force-dependent protein conformational changes.
Main Results:
- Adhesome composition is dynamically regulated and influenced by mechanical forces.
- Mechanosensitive adhesome proteins undergo conformational changes or expose binding sites under force.
- Mechanical tension, mediated by myosin II, is critical for recruiting specific adhesome proteins.
Conclusions:
- Cell-matrix adhesions are mechanosensitive structures that translate physical forces into biochemical signals.
- The adhesome's composition and function are intimately linked to mechanical cues from the tissue microenvironment.
- Understanding these mechanosensing mechanisms is key to comprehending tissue development and disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
01:24Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions
The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...
01:26Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
01:03Anchoring Junctions
Anchoring junctions are multiprotein complexes that help cells connect to other cells and the extracellular matrix. Anchoring junctions are present on the lateral and basal surfaces of cells, providing strong and flexible connections. Focal adhesions are often formed due to cell interactions with the ECM substrata, which initiate signal transduction via kinase cascades and other mechanisms. Together, they provide stability and tissue integrity. There are three types of anchoring junctions:...
01:20Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
01:20Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...