An optochemical tool for light-induced dissociation of adherens junctions to control mechanical coupling between cells

Dirk Ollech, Tim Pflästerer, Adam Shellard, Chiara Zambarda, Joachim Pius Spatz, Philippe Marcq, Roberto Mayor, Richard Wombacher () and Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti-Adam ()
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Dirk Ollech: Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
Tim Pflästerer: Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
Adam Shellard: University College London
Chiara Zambarda: Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
Joachim Pius Spatz: Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
Philippe Marcq: PSL University, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris
Roberto Mayor: University College London
Richard Wombacher: Heidelberg University
Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti-Adam: Max Planck Institute for Medical Research

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract The cadherin-catenin complex at adherens junctions (AJs) is essential for the formation of cell-cell adhesion and epithelium integrity; however, studying the dynamic regulation of AJs at high spatio-temporal resolution remains challenging. Here we present an optochemical tool which allows reconstitution of AJs by chemical dimerization of the force bearing structures and their precise light-induced dissociation. For the dimerization, we reconstitute acto-myosin connection of a tailless E-cadherin by two ways: direct recruitment of α-catenin, and linking its cytosolic tail to the transmembrane domain. Our approach enables a specific ON-OFF switch for mechanical coupling between cells that can be controlled spatially on subcellular or tissue scale via photocleavage. The combination with cell migration analysis and traction force microscopy shows a wide-range of applicability and confirms the mechanical contribution of the reconstituted AJs. Remarkably, in vivo our tool is able to control structural and functional integrity of the epidermal layer in developing Xenopus embryos.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14390-1

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