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Sensing Actin Dynamics through Adherens Junctions.

Indrajyoti Indra¹, Regina B Troyanovsky¹, Lawrence Shapiro²

¹Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

|February 27, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Punctate adherens junctions (pAJs) link dynamic actin and cadherin clusters. This study reveals distinct actin regions within pAJs, enabling cells to sense and coordinate cytoskeletal dynamics between neighboring cells via "dynasensing."

Keywords:

actin adhesion cadherin

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics
Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Background:

Punctate adherens junctions (pAJs) are crucial for cell-cell adhesion and mechanical signaling.
Understanding the interplay between dynamic actin filaments and relatively stable cadherin clusters in pAJs is key.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the structural and dynamic relationship between cadherin clusters and actin bundles in pAJs.
To elucidate the mechanism by which pAJs coordinate actin dynamics between cells.

Main Methods:

High-resolution live-cell imaging to observe F-actin and protein dynamics.
Fluorescence microscopy techniques to analyze actin turnover rates and movement.
Perturbation experiments to assess the dependence of actin dynamics on cadherin stability.

Main Results:

pAJ-linked actin bundles comprise two distinct regions: a stable stalk (AJ-BS) and a dynamic tip (AJ-BT).
The AJ-BT is calponin-negative and exhibits rapid F-actin turnover, while the AJ-BS shows slower turnover and centripetal movement.
Both actin tip and stalk turnover are dependent on cadherin cluster stability, which is regulated by F-actin.

Conclusions:

pAJs possess a unique structure with distinct actin regions that differentially interact with cadherin clusters.
A bidirectional coupling exists between cadherin stability and F-actin dynamics within pAJs.
This interaction facilitates a novel mechanism termed "dynasensing," allowing cells to sense and coordinate actin cytoskeleton dynamics across neighboring cells.