In mitosis integrins reduce adhesion to extracellular matrix and strengthen adhesion to adjacent cells
How cells modulate their adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and to neighboring cells during mitotic cell rounding remained elusive. We recently deciphered that cell-ECM adhesion components are released prior to mitosis and are rewired to synergize with cadherins to strengthen adhesion to adjacent cells.
Maximilian Huber and colleagues showed that mitotic cells only establish transient integrin-mediated cell-ECM adhesion due to the inability to engage integrins to the actomyosin cortex. However, to maintain tissue integrity, mitotic cells strengthen their adhesion to adjacent cells by recruiting integrins and their adaptor proteins to cell-cell adhesion sites. This dual role of integrins in mitosis enables cells to round up prior to mitosis and prevents delamination of the rounded and dividing cell.
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