美国斯隆凯特林研究所Jennifer A. Zallen小组发现，Abl和Canoe/Afadin介导三细胞交界处的机械转导。这一研究成果于2020年11月27日发表在国际学术期刊《科学》上。

研究人员发现，涉及Abl酪氨酸激酶和Canoe/Afadin的机械转导途径可稳定果蝇胚胎中三细胞交界处张力下的细胞粘附。Canoe响应放线菌素的收缩而被募集到三细胞交界处，并且这种机械敏感性需要在Canoe肌动蛋白结合域中保守酪氨酸的Abl依赖性磷酸化。

防止Canoe酪氨酸磷酸化会破坏三细胞粘连，并且将Canoe锚定在三细胞交界处，从而阻止细胞重排。这些结果确定了上皮重塑过程中在张力下稳定三细胞粘附的力响应机制。

据介绍，上皮结构是由细胞响应机械力动态重组而产生的。粘附连接在细胞之间传递力，但是细胞如何在体内感测和响应这些力尚不清楚。 

附：英文原文

Title: Abl and Canoe/Afadin mediate mechanotransduction at tricellular junctions

Author: Huapeng H. Yu, Jennifer A. Zallen

Issue&Volume: 2020/11/27

Abstract: Epithelial structure is generated by the dynamic reorganization of cells in response to mechanical forces. Adherens junctions transmit forces between cells, but how cells sense and respond to these forces in vivo is not well understood. We identify a mechanotransduction pathway involving the Abl tyrosine kinase and Canoe/Afadin that stabilizes cell adhesion under tension at tricellular junctions in the Drosophila embryo. Canoe is recruited to tricellular junctions in response to actomyosin contractility, and this mechanosensitivity requires Abl-dependent phosphorylation of a conserved tyrosine in the Canoe actin-binding domain. Preventing Canoe tyrosine phosphorylation destabilizes tricellular adhesion, and anchoring Canoe at tricellular junctions independently of mechanical inputs aberrantly stabilizes adhesion, arresting cell rearrangement. These results identify a force-responsive mechanism that stabilizes tricellular adhesion under tension during epithelial remodeling.

DOI: 10.1126/science.aba5528

Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6520/eaba5528