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Vinculin, cadherin mechanotransduction and homeostasis of cell–cell junctions

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An Erratum to this article was published on 19 April 2013

Abstract

Cell adhesion junctions characteristically arise from the cooperative integration of adhesion receptors, cell signalling pathways and the cytoskeleton. This is exemplified by cell–cell interactions mediated by classical cadherin adhesion receptors. These junctions are sites where cadherin adhesion systems functionally couple to the dynamic actin cytoskeleton, a process that entails physical interactions with many actin regulators and regulation by cell signalling pathways. Such integration implies a potential role for molecules that may stand at the interface between adhesion, signalling and the cytoskeleton. One such candidate is the cortical scaffolding protein, vinculin, which is a component of both cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesions. While its contribution to integrin-based adhesions has been extensively studied, less is known about how vinculin contributes to cell–cell adhesions. A major recent advance has come with the realisation that cadherin adhesions are active mechanical structures, where cadherin serves as part of a mechanotransduction pathway by which junctions sense and elicit cellular responses to mechanical stimuli. Vinculin has emerged as an important element in cadherin mechanotransduction, a perspective that illuminates its role in cell–cell interactions. We now review its role as a cortical scaffold and its role in cadherin mechanotransduction.

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Acknowledgments

Research in our group is funded by projects grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (631377) and Australian Research Council (DP120104667). JL is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award and ASY is a Research Fellow of the NHMRC (631383).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 4072

    Joanne M. Leerberg & Alpha S. Yap

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Correspondence to Alpha S. Yap.

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Leerberg, J.M., Yap, A.S. Vinculin, cadherin mechanotransduction and homeostasis of cell–cell junctions. Protoplasma 250, 817–829 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-012-0475-6

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