Phospho-regulated tethering of focal adhesion kinase to vinculin links force transduction to focal adhesion signaling.

ABSTRACT: Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is a key signaling molecule in focal adhesions (FAs) orchestrating the formation, maturation and turnover of the FA complex. A controlled FA lifecycle is essential for various cellular processes requiring mesenchymal cell migration and is harnessed by advanced cancers to initiate cancer invasion and metastasis. The mechanical force for migration is transmitted from actin stress fibers to FAs via specialized force transduction components in FAs. These forces are known to activate FA signaling, suggesting a communication between FA force transduction and FA signaling components, yet how this occurs mechanistically is unknown. Here we demonstrate that paxillin can act as an adaptor protein to connect FAK with the force transduction component vinculin. Our data show

SUBMITTER: Diaz-Palacios K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12013189 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature