Rac1-dependent phosphorylation and focal adhesion recruitment of myosin IIA regulates migration and mechanosensing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cell migration requires coordinated formation of focal adhesions (FAs) and assembly and contraction of the actin cytoskeleton. Nonmuscle myosin II (MII) is a critical mediator of contractility and FA dynamics in cell migration. Signaling downstream of the small GTPase Rac1 also regulates FA and actin dynamics, but its role in regulation of MII during migration is less clear.

Results

We found that Rac1 promotes association of MIIA with FA. Live-cell imaging showed that, whereas most MIIA at the leading edge assembled into dorsal contractile arcs, a substantial subset assembled in or was captured within maturing FA, and this behavior was promoted by active Rac1. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation was necessary and sufficient for integrin- and Rac1-dependent phosphory

SUBMITTER: Pasapera AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4302036 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature