Force-FAK signaling coupling at individual focal adhesions coordinates mechanosensing and microtissue repair

Dennis W. Zhou, Marc A. Fernández-Yagüe, Elijah N. Holland, Andrés F. García, Nicolas S. Castro, Eric B. O’Neill, Jeroen Eyckmans, Christopher S. Chen, Jianping Fu, David D. Schlaepfer and Andrés J. García ()
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Dennis W. Zhou: Georgia Institute of Technology
Marc A. Fernández-Yagüe: Georgia Institute of Technology
Elijah N. Holland: Georgia Institute of Technology
Andrés F. García: Georgia Institute of Technology
Nicolas S. Castro: Georgia Institute of Technology
Eric B. O’Neill: Georgia Institute of Technology
Jeroen Eyckmans: Boston University
Christopher S. Chen: Boston University
Jianping Fu: University of Michigan
David D. Schlaepfer: University of California, San Diego
Andrés J. García: Georgia Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract How adhesive forces are transduced and integrated into biochemical signals at focal adhesions (FAs) is poorly understood. Using cells adhering to deformable micropillar arrays, we demonstrate that traction force and FAK localization as well as traction force and Y397-FAK phosphorylation are linearly coupled at individual FAs on stiff, but not soft, substrates. Similarly, FAK phosphorylation increases linearly with external forces applied to FAs using magnetic beads. This mechanosignaling coupling requires actomyosin contractility, talin-FAK binding, and full-length vinculin that binds talin and actin. Using an in vitro 3D biomimetic wound healing model, we show that force-FAK signaling coupling coordinates cell migration and tissue-scale forces to promote microtissue repair. A simple kinetic binding model of talin-FAK interactions under force can recapitulate the experimental observations. This study provides insights on how talin and vinculin convert forces into FAK signaling events regulating cell migration and tissue repair.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22602-5

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