New molecule in gear box of cells

September 05, 2016
Tissue are composed of cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix. During embryonic development, wound healing and cancer metastasis, cells move within tissues. How they do it, is a highly relevant scientific and medical question. Now, researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried found a new molecule that regulates the speed of cell migration. Kank2, the newly discovered protein, diminishes the force transmission between cells and extracellular matrix. Thereby the cells find less grip on the ground and move slower.

In tissue, cells are embedded within the extracellular matrix, a meshwork of different protein assemblies. Integrins are anchor proteins on the cell surface, which on the one hand enable cells to adhere to the extracellular matrix, and on the other hand connect to the actin cytoskeleton inside the cells. Hence, integrin-mediated adhesion points transmit mechanical force generated by the contractile cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix, which is needed for cell migration. The stronger integrin-based adhesions are pulled by mechanical force, the tighter they are anchored on the extracellular matrix.

Similar to the gearbox of a driving car, many integrin- and actin-binding proteins including Talin are needed to clutch the actin engine with integrins. Scientist of the department “Molecular Medicine” at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry discovered the Kank protein family as a new component within the cellular gearbox. “At integrin-based adhesions, Kank2 reduces the connection between Talin and the actin cytoskeleton and hence diminishes the force transmission across integrins”, explains Zhiqi Sun, first author of the study. Consequently, the grip between the cell and the matrix is reduced– similar to a car on an icy street. “We have discovered a kind of gearshift. Depending on the Kank protein, the anchorage strength and eventually the speed of the cell movement can be changed”, explains Sun additionally.

The newly discovered mechanism may be especially interesting for the treatment of cancer. “If one could actively influence the clutch engagement in the gearbox of tumor cells, we would have a new tool to probably slow disease progression”, summarizes Zhiqi Sun.

Original Publication:
Z. Sun, H.-Y. Tseng, S. Tan, F. Senger, L. Kurzawa, D. Dedden, N. Mizuno, A. A.Wasik, M. Thery, A.  R. Dunn and R. Fässler: Kank2 activates talin, reduces force transduction across integrins and  induces central adhesion formation, Nature Cell Biology, August 2016
DOI: 10.1038/ncb3402

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