Stabilization of adhesions controls F-actin architecture in mechanotransduction.

ABSTRACT: A cell's ability to sense and respond to the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis, and its disruption contributes to diseases such as fibrosis, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer. Effective mechanical coupling between the plasma membrane, the underlying filamentous actin (F-actin) cytoskeleton, and integrin-based adhesion complexes (IACs) is required to link ECM mechanics to cell morphology, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we combine computational modeling and high-resolution imaging to show that integrin-ECM bonds determine F-actin cytoskeleton organization. On soft substrates, short-lived IACs bonds allow rapid actin retrograde flow and dense branching, restricting protrusion and limi

SUBMITTER: Carney KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12738284 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature