Fig. 3: Cell–cell junctions and FAs are necessary for actin alignment.
From: Interplay of actin nematodynamics and anisotropic tension controls endothelial mechanics
a, Endothelium stained for VE-cadherin (yellow) and phalloidin (cyan) after 7 h of stretch, showing a focal AJ with transendothelial actin fibre association (arrows). b, Endothelium stained for phalloidin (cyan) and vinculin (magenta) after 7 h of stretch at ΔP ≈ 650 Pa, showing a line of clustered FA with actin fibres anchoring (arrowhead). Scale bar, 20 μm (a and b). c, Control endothelium stained for VE-cadherin (yellow), phalloidin and vinculin (magenta) after 7 h of stretch, showing vinculin association to FAs at the end of actin stress fibres (arrowheads) and to AJs with parallel actin stress fibres (double arrowheads). d, EDTA-treated endothelia stained for VE-cadherin, phalloidin (cyan) and vinculin (magenta) after 7 h of stretch, showing vinculin association to FAs at the ends of actin stress fibres (arrowheads). e, Probability distribution of the actin stress fibres at 7 h (i) and 24 h (ii) for control (orange, n = 7 (7 h); red, n = 5 (24 h)) and EDTA-treated endothelia in the control medium (blue, n = 5 (7 h) and n = 6 (24 h)) or DMEM (teal, n = 3 (7 h)). Nematic order parameter q of the actin stress fibres for control (orange-red), in standard medium (label C) or DMEM medium (label D) and EDTA-treated endothelia (label +e), with the nematic order parameter q at 0 h (yellow, n = 8) (iii). Schematic of a cell before and after treatment with EDTA, with the actin anchoring switching from junctions to FAs (iv). f, DMEM-cultured endothelium stained for VE-cadherin (yellow), phalloidin and vinculin (magenta) after 7 h of stretch, showing vinculin association to AJs with parallel actin stress fibres (double arrowheads). g, DMEM-cultured and EDTA-treated endothelia stained for VE-cadherin, phalloidin (cyan) and vinculin (magenta) after 7 h of stretch. Scale bar, 50 μm (c, d, f and g).
