Force-induced activation of Talin and its possible role in focal adhesion mechanotransduction

It is now well established that cells can sense mechanical force, but the mechanisms by which force is transduced into a biochemical signal remain poorly understood. One example is the recruitment of vinculin to reinforce initial contacts between a cell and the extracellular matrix (ECM) due to tensile force. Talin, an essential linking protein in an initial contact, contains at least one vinculinbinding site (VBS) that is cryptic and inactive in the native state. The N-terminal five-helix bundle of talin rod is a stable structure with a known cryptic VBSI. The perturbation of this stable structure through elevated temperature or destabilizing mutation activates vinculin binding. Although the disruption of this subdomain by transmitted mechanical force is a potential cue for the force-induced focal adhesion strengthening, the molecular basis for this mechanism remains elusive. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) is employed to demonstrate a force-induced conformational change that exposes the cryptic vinculin-binding residues of VBSI to solvent under applied force along a realistic pulling direction. VBS I undergoes a rotation of 62.0 +/- 9.5 degrees relative to its native state as its vinculin- binding residues are released from the tight hydrophobic core. Charged and polar residues on the VBSI surface are the site of force transmission that strongly interact with an adjacent a-helix, and in effect, apply torque to the VBSI to cause its rotation. Activation was observed with mean force of 13.2 +/- 8.0pN during constant velocity simulation and with steady force greater than 18.0pN. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.