Mammalian formin-1 participates in adherens junctions and polymerization of linear actin cables

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Abstract
During epithelial sheet formation, linear actin cables assemble at nascent adherens junctions. This process requires α-catenin and actin polymerization, although the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we show that formin-1 interacts with α-catenin, localizes to adherens junctions and nucleates unbranched actin filaments. Furthermore, disruption of the α-catenin–formin-1 interaction blocks assembly of radial actin cables and perturbs intercellular adhesion. A fusion protein of the β-catenin-binding domain of α-catenin with the actin polymerization domains of formin-1 rescues formation of adherens junctions and associated actin cables in α-catenin-null keratinocytes. These findings provide new insight into how α-catenin orchestrates actin dynamics during intercellular junction formation.