Year of publication:
2009
Journal name:
Biology of the Cell
Focal adhesion kinase-dependent regulation of adhesive force involves vinculin recruitment to focal adhesions.
http://www.biolcell.org –
Background information. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), an essential non-receptor tyrosine kinase, plays pivotal roles in migratory responses, adhesive signaling, and mechanotransduction. FAK-dependent regulation of cell migration involves focal adhesion turnover dynamics as well as actin cytoskeleton polymerization and lamellipodia protrusion. Whereas roles for FAK in migratory and mechanosensing responses have been established, the contributions of FAK to the generation of adhesive forces are not well understood. Results. Read more »
Stretching Single Talin Rod Molecules Activates Vinculin Binding
http://www.sciencemag.org –
The molecular mechanism by which a mechanical stimulus is translated into a chemical response in biological systems is still unclear. We show that mechanical stretching of single cytoplasmic proteins can activate binding of other molecules. We used magnetic tweezers, total internal reflection fluorescence, and atomic force microscopy to investigate the effect of force on the interaction between talin, a protein that links liganded membrane integrins to the cytoskeleton, and vinculin, a focal adhesion protein that is activated by talin binding, leading to reorganization of the cytoskeleton. Read more »
Year of publication:
2009
Journal name:
Science
Category: Focal Adhesions Tags:
The Role of Vinculin in the Regulation of the Mechanical Properties of Cells
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov –
Vinculin couples as a focal adhesion protein the extracellular matrix (ECM) through integrins to the actomyosin cytoskeleton. During the last years vinculin has become the focus of cell mechanical measurements and a key protein regulating the transmission of contractile forces. In earlier reports vinculin has been described as an inhibitor of cell migration on planar substrates, because knock-out of vinculin in F9 mouse embryonic carcinoma cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts showed increased cell motility on 2D substrates. Read more »
Year of publication:
2009
Journal name:
Cell Biochem Biophys.