The distribution of vinculin to lipid rafts plays an important role in sensing stiffness of extracellular matrix |
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Authors: | Ayaka Ichikawa Nagasato Hiroshi Yamashita Michinori Matsuo Kazumitsu Ueda |
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Affiliation: | 1. Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan;2. Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan |
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Abstract: | Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness regulates cell differentiation, survival, and migration. Our previous study has shown that the interaction of the focal adhesion protein vinculin with vinexin α plays a critical role in sensing ECM stiffness and regulating stiffness-dependent cell migration. However, the mechanism how vinculin–vinexin α interaction affects stiffness-dependent cell migration is unclear. Lipid rafts are membrane microdomains that are known to affect ECM-induced signals and cell behaviors. Here, we show that vinculin and vinexin α can localize to lipid rafts. Cell-ECM adhesion, intracellular tension, and a rigid ECM promote vinculin distribution to lipid rafts. The disruption of lipid rafts with Methyl-β-cyclodextrin impaired the ECM stiffness-mediated regulation of vinculin behavior and rapid cell migration on rigid ECM. These results indicate that lipid rafts play an important role in ECM-stiffness regulation of cell migration via vinculin. |
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Keywords: | vinculin lipid raft extracellular matrix focal adhesions mechanotransduction |
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