Trans- and cis-interaction dynamics of cadherin complexes on membranes visualized by high-speed atomic force microscopy.

High-speed atomic force microscopy reveals dynamic trans- and cis-interactions of cadherin complexes on membranes, showing multiple conformations and assembly pathways.

• Why it matters: Understanding cadherin clustering is crucial for grasping tissue formation and the impact of adhesion defects on diseases, but the interaction dynamics have remained elusive due to technical challenges.
• What they did: The study reconstituted cadherin complexes on membranes and used high-speed atomic force microscopy to visualize their structure and behavior, identifying strand-swap trans-interactions and cis-interactions.
• The result: Findings demonstrate that cadherins adopt diverse, dynamic conformations through multiple assembly routes, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying cell-cell adhesion and tissue integrity.