Journal Article

FZJ-2022-03407

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Intrinsic cell rheology drives junction maturation

Sri-Ranjan, K. (Corresponding author) ; Sanchez-Alonso, J. L.Extern* ; Swiatlowska, P. ; Rothery, S. ; Novak, P.Extern* ; Gerlach, S.FZJ* ; Koeninger, D.FZJ* ; Hoffmann, B.FZJ* ; Merkel, R.FZJ* ; Stevens, M. M. ; Sun, S. X. ; Gorelik, J.Extern* ; Braga, V. M. M.Extern*

2022
Nature Publishing Group UK [London]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/31858  doi:10.1038/s41467-022-32102-9

Abstract: A fundamental property of higher eukaryotes that underpins their evolutionary success is stable cell-cell cohesion. Yet, how intrinsic cell rheology and stiffness contributes to junction stabilization and maturation is poorly understood. We demonstrate that localized modulation of cell rheology governs the transition of a slack, undulated cell-cell contact (weak adhesion) to a mature, straight junction (optimal adhesion). Cell pairs confined on different geometries have heterogeneous elasticity maps and control their own intrinsic rheology co-ordinately. More compliant cell pairs grown on circles have slack contacts, while stiffer triangular cell pairs favour straight junctions with flanking contractile thin bundles. Counter-intuitively, straighter cell-cell contacts have reduced receptor density and less dynamic junctional actin, suggesting an unusual adaptive mechano-response to stabilize cell-cell adhesion. Our modelling informs that slack junctions arise from failure of circular cell pairs to increase their own intrinsic stiffness and resist the pressures from the neighbouring cell. The inability to form a straight junction can be reversed by increasing mechanical stress artificially on stiffer substrates. Our data inform on the minimal intrinsic rheology to generate a mature junction and provide a springboard towards understanding elements governing tissue-level mechanics.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Mechanobiologie (IBI-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 333 - Integrative Biomedizin (POF4-333) (POF4-333)
2. 315 - Bildgebung und Radioonkologie (POF4-315) (POF4-315)
3. 5243 - Information Processing in Distributed Systems (POF4-524) (POF4-524)
4. DFG project 273723265 - Mechanosensation und Mechanoreaktion in epidermalen Systemen (273723265)

Appears in the scientific report 2022

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