How Adherens Junctions Sense Force

Adherens junctions help cells stay attached while they respond to mechanical force. These multi-protein complexes can adapt to tensile force and shear stress. When the force changes, mechanosensory proteins in the junction can change shape. This process is called mechanotransduction.

Alpha-cateni...

Tissues like the skin and intestinal epithelium are constantly experiencing external mechanical forces such as pinching or stretching.

The adherens junctions that anchor these epithelial cells together can change dynamically in response to such mechanical tension. This conversion of mechanical stimuli into biochemical changes is called me...