Local Contractions Regulate E-Cadherin Adhesions, Rigidity Sensing and Epithelial Cell Sorting

E-cadherin is a major cell-cell adhesion molecule involved in mechanotransduction at cell-cell contacts in tissues. Since epithelial cells respond to rigidity and tension in the tissue through E-cadherin, there must be active processes that test and respond to the mechanical properties of these adhesive contacts. Using sub-micrometer, E-cadherin-coated PDMS pillars, we find that cells generate local contractions between E-cadherin adhesions and pull to a constant distance for a constant duration, irrespective of pillar rigidity. These cadherin contractions require non-muscle myosin IIB, tropomyosin 2.1, α-catenin and binding of vinculin to α-catenin; plus, they are correlated with rigidity-dependent cell spreading. Without contractions, cells fail to spread to different areas on soft and rigid surfaces and to maintain monolayer integrity. We further observe that cadherin contractions enable cells to test myosin IIA-mediated tension of neighboring cells, and sort out myosin IIA-depleted cells. Thus, we suggest that epithelial cells test and respond to the mechanical characteristics of neighboring cells through cadherin contractions.