Integrin α₆ and EGFR signaling converge at mechanosensitive calpain 2.

ABSTRACT: Cells sense and respond to mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM) via integrins. ECM stiffness is known to enhance integrin clustering and response to epidermal growth factor (EGF), but we lack information on when or if these mechanosensitive growth factor receptors and integrins converge intracellularly. Towards closing this knowledge gap, we combined a biomaterial platform with transcriptomics, molecular biology, and functional assays to link integrin-mediated mechanosensing and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. We found that high integrin α₆ expression controlled breast cancer cell adhesion and motility on soft, laminin-coated substrates, and this mimicked the response of cells to EGF stimulation. The mechanisms that drove both mechanosensitive c

SUBMITTER: Schwartz AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6211197 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature