Mechanical loading of desmosomes depends on the magnitude and orientation of external stress.

ABSTRACT: Desmosomes are intercellular adhesion complexes that connect the intermediate filament cytoskeletons of neighboring cells, and are essential for the mechanical integrity of mammalian tissues. Mutations in desmosomal proteins cause severe human pathologies including epithelial blistering and heart muscle dysfunction. However, direct evidence for their load-bearing nature is lacking. Here we develop Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based tension sensors to measure the forces experienced by desmoplakin, an obligate desmosomal protein that links the desmosomal plaque to intermediate filaments. Our experiments reveal that desmoplakin does not experience significant tension under most conditions, but instead becomes mechanically loaded when cells are exposed to external mechanical stress

SUBMITTER: Price AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6290003 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature