An ensemble of flexible conformations underlies mechanotransduction by the cadherin–catenin adhesion complex

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1911489116
• Publication Date: 2019-10-08T00:34:13Z
• Authors: Martin Bush; Bashir M. Alhanshali; Shuo Qian; Christopher B. St...; William T. Heller; Tsutomu Matsui; Thomas M. Weiss; Iain D. Nicholl; Thomas Walz; David J. E. Callaway; Zimei Bu
• Keywords: 570; 0303 health sciences; small-angle neutron scattering; Amino Acid Motifs; Molecular Conformation; Adherens Junctions; Biological Sciences; Cadherins; adherens junction; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; 03 medical and health sciences; Protein Domains; small-angle X-ray scattering; Scattering, Small Angle; negative stain electron microscopy; Humans; alpha Catenin; beta Catenin; mechanotransduction; Protein Binding

Significance Adherens junctions are specialized cell–cell adhesion complexes found in epithelial, endothelial, and neuronal tissues of multicellular organism. The cadherin–catenin complex is the core component of the adherens junction and transmits mechanical stress from cell to cell. This study reveals that the cadherin–catenin complex displays a wide spectrum of flexible structures, which suggests a dynamic mechanism for this complex in mechanotransduction for cell–cell adhesion.