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

Author

Listed:
  • Dirk Ollech

    (Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
    Heidelberg University
    Science for Life Laboratory and KTH Royal Technical University)

  • Tim Pflästerer

    (Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
    Heidelberg University
    Heidelberg University)

  • Adam Shellard

    (University College London)

  • Chiara Zambarda

    (Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
    Heidelberg University)

  • Joachim Pius Spatz

    (Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
    Heidelberg University)

  • 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
    Heidelberg University)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk Ollech & Tim Pflästerer & Adam Shellard & Chiara Zambarda & Joachim Pius Spatz & Philippe Marcq & Roberto Mayor & Richard Wombacher & Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti-Adam, 2020. "An optochemical tool for light-induced dissociation of adherens junctions to control mechanical coupling between cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-14390-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14390-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Brice Nzigou Mombo & Brent M. Bijonowski & Christopher A. Raab & Stephan Niland & Katrin Brockhaus & Marc Müller & Johannes A. Eble & Seraphine V. Wegner, 2023. "Reversible photoregulation of cell-cell adhesions with opto-E-cadherin," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Sant Kumar & Hannes M. Beyer & Mingzhe Chen & Matias D. Zurbriggen & Mustafa Khammash, 2024. "Image-guided optogenetic spatiotemporal tissue patterning using μPatternScope," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

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