Linking E-cadherin mechanotransduction to cell metabolism through force-mediated activation of AMPK

Cell adhesion and mechanics as drivers of tissue organization and differentiation: local cues for large scale organization

Biological patterns emerge through specialization of genetically identical cells to take up distinct fates according to their position within the organism. How initial symmetry is broken to give rise to these patterns remains an intriguing open question. Several theories of patterning have been proposed, most prominently Turing's reaction-diffusion model of a slowly diffusing activator and a fast diffusing inhibitor generating periodic patterns. Although these reaction-diffusion systems can generate diverse patterns, it is becoming increasingly evident that cell shape and tension anisotropies, mediated via cell-cell and/or cell-matrix contacts, also facilitate symmetry breaking and subsequent self-organized tissue patterning. This review will highlight recent studies that implicate local changes in adhesion and/or tension as key drivers of cell rearrangements. We will also discuss recent studies on the role of cadherin and integrin adhesive receptors in mediating and responding to local tissue tension asymmetries to coordinate cell fate, position and behavior essential for tissue self-organization and maintenance.

Cancer cell cannibalism: Multiple triggers emerge for entosis

Entosis is a form of epithelial cell engulfment and cannibalism prevalent in human cancer. Until recently, the only known trigger for entosis was loss of attachment to the extracellular matrix, as often occurs in the tumour microenvironment. However, two new studies now reveal that entosis can also occur among adherent epithelial cells, induced by mitosis or glucose starvation. Together, these findings point to the intriguing notion that certain hallmark properties of cancer cells, including anchorage independence, aberrant proliferation and metabolic stress, can converge on the induction of cell cannibalism, a phenomenon so frequently observed in tumours. In this review, we explore the molecular, cellular and biophysical mechanisms underlying entosis and discuss the impact of cell cannibalism on tumour biology.

Balancing forces in migration

The integrated molecular interactions of proteins can create active biological networks whose material properties and actions can impact a variety of physiological processes. Chief among these is the ability to generate and respond to physical forces. The cytoskeleton plays a key role in this behavior, characterized by active self-reorganization to control a cell's shape and mediate its physical interactions. This review discusses our current understanding of how the material properties of the cytoskeleton and its physical interactions with the extracellular environment impact cell migration.

In the Hunger Games, the Winner Takes Everything

Entosis is an atypical form of cell death that occurs when a cell engulfs and kills another cell. A recent article by Overholtzer and colleagues indicates that glucose deprivation promotes entosis. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in the loser cells triggers their engulfment and elimination by winner cells, which endure starvation.