Focal adhesions are controlled by microtubules through local contractility regulation

(Figure presented.) Progressive microtubule capture during focal adhesion maturation ultimately triggers focal adhesion turnover. This study shows that local development of actomyosin traction force induces focal adhesion sliding, thus mediating focal adhesion disassembly upon interaction with microtubules. An optogenetic construct of KANK1 protein enables targeting of microtubules to focal adhesions upon local blue light illumination. Illumination-induced increase in the number of microtubule tips at focal adhesion is followed by their withdrawal, and by accumulation of myosin-II filaments. Local transient development of traction force is followed by focal adhesion sliding and disassembly. Disassembly of focal adhesion induced by OptoKANK-driven microtubule targeting depends on Rho activation by the microtubule-associated GEF-H1 and other factors. A mathematical model replicates the observed microtubule-driven focal adhesion disassembly due to myosin-II mediated traction force generation.