Probing compression versus stretch activated recruitment of cortical actin and apical junction proteins using mechanical stimulations of suspended doublets

Abstract

We report an experimental approach to study the mechanosensitivity of cell-cell contact upon mechanical stimulation in suspended cell-doublets. The doublet is placed astride an hourglass aperture, and a hydrodynamic force is selectively exerted on only one of the cells. The geometry of the device concentrates the mechanical shear over the junction area. Together with mechanical shear, the system also allows confocal quantitative live imaging of the recruitment of junction proteins (e.g., E-cadherin, ZO-1, occludin, and actin). We observed the time sequence over which proteins were recruited to the stretched region of the contact. The compressed side of the contact showed no response. We demo..