Dresden 2009 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 13: Cell Migration

BP 13.9: Talk

Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 13:00–13:15, ZEU 260

Vinculin exchange dynamics regulates adhesion site turnover and adhesion strength — •Christoph Möhl, Norbert Kirchgeßner, Claudia Schäfer, Kevin Küpper, Rudolf Merkel, and Bernd Hoffmann — Institut für Bio- und Nanosysteme 4: Biomechanik, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany

The coordinated formation and release of focal adhesions is a key requirement for effective cell locomotion. New adhesions develop at the cell front and mature over time by changing composition and exchange dynamics of the incorporated proteins. As the cell moves forward, the maturing focal adhesions remain nearly stationary with respect to the substrate. They finally dissolve once the cell's trailing edge comes close. Besides other factors, this adhesion turnover defines the polarization and direction of migration of the cell and is thought to be highly regulated by phosphorylation events.

Here, we analyzed the dynamics of focal adhesions in migrating cells on different time scales. On the long time scale, we measured lifetimes and growth behaviour of focal adhesions, while on the short time scale the exchange dynamics of the focal adhesion protein vinculin was analyzed by FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching). In parallel, overall focal adhesion phosphorylation was quantified. Additionally, force measurements on moving cells were performed to correlate the maturation state of a focal adhesion with its adhesion strength. Our studies support a direct interplay between phosphorylation, adhesion dynamics and force application.