Elastic Coupling of Nascent apCAM Adhesions to Flowing Actin Networks

Title data

Mejean, Cecile O. ; Schaefer, Andrew W. ; Buck, Kenneth B. ; Kress, Holger ; Shundrovsky, Alla ; Merrill, Jason W. ; Dufresne, Eric R. ; Forscher, Paul:
Elastic Coupling of Nascent apCAM Adhesions to Flowing Actin Networks.
In: PLoS One. Vol. 8 (2013) Issue 9 . - e73389.
ISSN 1932-6203
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0073389

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

Adhesions are multi-molecular complexes that transmit forces generated by a cell’s acto-myosin networks to external substrates. While the physical properties of some of the individual components of adhesions have been carefully characterized, the mechanics of the coupling between the cytoskeleton and the adhesion site as a whole are just beginning to be revealed. We characterized the mechanics of nascent adhesions mediated by the immunoglobulin-family cell adhesion molecule apCAM, which is known to interact with actin filaments. Using simultaneous visualization of actin flow and quantification of forces transmitted to apCAM-coated beads restrained with an optical trap, we found that adhesions are dynamic structures capable of transmitting a wide range of forces. For forces in the picoNewton scale, the nascent adhesions’ mechanical properties are dominated by an elastic structure which can be reversibly deformed by up to 1 µm. Large reversible deformations rule out an interface between substrate and cytoskeleton that is dominated by a number of stiff molecular springs in parallel, and favor a compliant cross-linked network. Such a compliant structure may increase the lifetime of a nascent adhesion, facilitating signaling and reinforcement.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics > Professor Experimental Physics VI - Biologial Physics > Professor Experimental Physics VI - Biologial Physics - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Holger Kreß Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics > Professor Experimental Physics VI - Biologial Physics
Result of work at the UBT:	No
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 530 Physics 500 Science > 570 Life sciences, biology
Date Deposited:	26 Feb 2021 09:44
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2022 07:40
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/63454