Microtubule-induced focal adhesion disassembly is mediated by dynamin and focal adhesion kinase

Abstract

Imaging studies implicate microtubule targeting of focal adhesions in focal adhesion disassembly, although the molecular mechanism is unknown. Here, we develop a model system of focal adhesion disassembly based on the finding that microtubule regrowth after nocodazole washout induces disassembly of focal adhesions, and that this disassembly occurs independently of Rho and Rac, but depends on focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and dynamin. During disassembly, dynamin interacts with FAK and colocalizes with focal adhesions. Inhibition of dynamin prevents migration of cells with a focal adhesion phenotype. Our results show that focal adhesion disassembly involves microtubules, dynamin and FAK, and is not simply the reversal of focal adhesion formation.