Cadherins are a family of transmembrane proteins that bind cells together in all soft tissue. Their principle function is to resist mechanical forces between cells. Cell-cell adhesion is a dynamic process; cadherins tailor their binding in response to changes in the mechanical properties of their surrounding environment. Equilibrium solution binding studies (3D) have been used to characterize cadherin binding properties, but the kinetics of cadherin interactions at surfaces (2D), in the presence of mechanical stress, has not yet been measured. Here we use single molecule force measurements with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Molecular Dynamics simulations to identify how cadherins tune their unbinding kinetics and withstand mechanical stress in 2D. In this context, we show that cadherins form three types of adhesive bonds: catch bonds which, counter-intuitively, become longer lived and lock in the presence of tensile force, slip bonds which become shorter lived when pulled and ideal bonds that are insensitive to tugging. Catch, slip and ideal bonds allow cadherins to withstand tensile force and tune the mechanical properties of adhesive junctions.

Tuning the mechanics of cell-cell adhesion

245th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.