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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads
Published on: March 8, 2017
Spatial relationships between vinculin tension and actin at cell adhesions define cell colony positioning and
Abigail Nagle1, Cherry Leung2, Elaheh Karbassi1
1Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center for Translational Muscle Research, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Abstract:
The protein vinculin mediates actin-myosin-dependent adhesion strength to regulate force transmission at cellular adhesions. The precise distribution of forces sensed by vinculin that regulates downstream cellular processes remains unclear. To determine vinculin tension in multiple cell types, a FRET-based tension-sensitive module was knocked into the vinculin locus of human induced pluripotent stem cells. Measurements of vinculin tension and adhesion spatial distributions were used to create mechanical profiles that identify cellular origin and differentially correlate to cell shape characteristics. In stem cell colonies, edge cell morphology depended on high vinculin tension in basal adhesions connected to actin. These mechanical signatures were able to determine progression toward cardiomyocyte versus neural lineage commitment. Our findings suggest that spatial mapping of vinculin tension can define mechanical profiles that differentially correlate to cell morphologies that affect cell function and lineage fate.
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