Vinculin-cell membrane interactions

Vinculin-cell membrane interactions.

Focal adhesions (FAs) are macromolecular complexes that connect the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix (ECM). These cell junctions are highly spatially organized yet dynamic organelles that transduce force from the actin cytoskeleton to transmembrane proteins known as integrins, which are heterodimers that bind to ECM components such as fibronectin, collagen, and laminin. The intrac...

Structural Dynamics of -Actinin–Vinculin Interactions†

Vinculin, cell mechanics and tumour cell invasion.

The focal adhesion protein, vinculin, is important for transmitting mechanical forces and orchestrating mechanical signalling events. Deregulation of vinculin results in altered cell adhesion, contractility, motility and growth, all of which are important processes in cancer metastasis. This review summarises recent reports on the role of vinculin in cellular force generation and signalling, an...

Live cell imaging of membrane / cytoskeleton interactions and membrane topology

We elucidate the interaction between actin and specific membrane components, using real time live cell imaging, by delivering probes that enable access to components, that cannot be accessed genetically. We initially investigated the close interplay between Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and the F-actin network. We show that, during the early stage of cell adhesion, PIP2 forms dom...

Lamellipodia Protrusion: Moving Interactions of Vinculin and Arp2/3

A direct, transient interaction between vinculin and Arp2/3 is required to promote receptor-stimulated lamellipodial extension and cell spreading. Vinculin selectively recruits Arp2/3 to the leading edge of the lamellipodium, where it may couple the actin polymerization machinery to adhesion complexes to promote membrane protrusion over ruffling.