Actomyosin forces trigger a conformational change in desmoplakin within desmosomes.

ABSTRACT: Desmosomes are essential cell-cell adhesion organelles that enable tension-prone tissues, like the skin and heart, to withstand mechanical stress. Desmosomal anomalies are associated with numerous epidermal disorders, cardiomyopathies, and cancer. Despite their critical importance, how desmosomes sense and respond to mechanical stimuli is not understood. Here, we combine super-resolution imaging in epithelial cells and primary cardiomyocytes, FRET-based tension sensors, atomistic computer simulations, and biochemical assays to demonstrate that actomyosin forces induce a conformational change in desmoplakin, a key cytoplasmic desmosomal protein. We show that in human breast cancer MCF7 cells, keratin-19 couples F-actin filaments to desmosomes and regulates the level of actomyosin forces int

SUBMITTER: Dong Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12514153 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature