Biophysics of cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion

Cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion is a key mechanical integrator of multicellular structure and movement. The cadherin junctions are under constant mechanical load whenever cell-to-cell interactions require remodeling, a common occurrence during embryogenesis, tissue repair and cancer cell invasion. Rapid adaptation of adhesive strength is regulated by the actin cytoskeleton, yet the precise mechanisms remain ambiguous. Diverse experimental approaches including genetic, biochemical and biophysical analyses are being used to decipher the molecular interactions at the cadherin-actin linkage, which are now shaping the modern view of cadherin junctions as mechanosensing complexes.