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Talin depletion reveals independence of initial cell spreading from integrin activation and traction

Nature Cell Biology volume 10, pages 1062–1068 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Cell spreading, adhesion and remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) involve bi-directional signalling and physical linkages between the ECM, integrins and the cell cytoskeleton1,2,3. The actin-binding proteins talin1 and 2 link ligand-bound integrins to the actin cytoskeleton and increase the affinity of integrin for the ECM4,5,6. Here we report that depletion of talin2 in talin1-null (talin1−/−) cells did not affect the initiation of matrix-activated spreading or Src family kinase (SFK) activation, but abolished the ECM–integrin–cytoskeleton linkage and sustained cell spreading and adhesion. Specifically, focal adhesion assembly, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signalling and traction force generation on substrates were severely affected. The talin1 head domain restored β1 integrin activation but only full-length talin1 restored the ECM–cytoskeleton linkage and normal cytoskeleton organization. Our results demonstrate three biochemically distinct steps in fibronectin-activated cell spreading and adhesion: 1) fibronectin–integrin binding and initiation of spreading, 2) fast cell spreading and 3) focal adhesion formation and substrate traction. We suggest that talin is not required for initial cell spreading. However, talin provides the important mechanical linkage between ligand-bound integrins and the actin cytoskeleton required to catalyse focal adhesion-dependent pathways.

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Figure 1: Talin2 depletion in talin1−/− cells does not affect initial spreading on fibronectin but causes cell rounding.
Figure 2: Spread talin-deficient cells show defects in focal adhesion formation and adhesion to substrates.
Figure 3: Talin1 head activates β1 integrin but does not rescue focal adhesion formation.
Figure 4: Talin depletion impairs FAK-Tyr 397 phosphorylation upon adhesion to fibronectin.
Figure 5: Talin couples actomyosin contractility to the substrate and facilitates the distribution of microtubules.

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Acknowledgements

We thank P. De Camilli for talin2-specific antibody, N. Bate for various talin1 constructs and A.J. Woods for the talin1ABS construct. We thank N. Gauthier, T. Perez and O. Rossier for helpful discussions, and the continuing help from all members of the Sheetz laboratory. Work in the laboratory of M.P.S. was supported by the National Institutes of Health through the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research (PN2 EY016586) and X.Z. was supported by GM-003267. Work in the D.R.C. laboratory was funded by the Wellcome Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, 1212 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, 10027, New York, USA

    Xian Zhang, Guoying Jiang, Yunfei Cai & Michael P. Sheetz

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK

    Susan J. Monkley & David R. Critchley

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  1. Xian Zhang
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Contributions

X.Z. performed all the experiments in M.P.S. lab with significant support from G.J. and Y.C.; S.J.M. provided the cell line and important information; D.R.C. provided important direction on the project.

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Correspondence to Michael P. Sheetz.

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Zhang, X., Jiang, G., Cai, Y. et al. Talin depletion reveals independence of initial cell spreading from integrin activation and traction. Nat Cell Biol 10, 1062–1068 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1765

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