Modulation of cellular adhesion, contractility, and migration by MiuA: a comprehensive analysis of its biomechanical impact

Cellular adhesion and contractility are essential for cell movement. In this study, we investigated the effects of actin stabilization on adhesion properties, contractility, and cell migration. For this, we used the recently synthesized actin stabilizer miuraenamide A (MiuA), which has been discussed as a more reliable alternative to the otherwise commonly used actin stabilizer jasplakinolide. We investigated the number and size of focal adhesions in RPE-1 cells and used single-cell force spectroscopy to evaluate the adhesion properties of those cells after MiuA treatment. We showed that MiuA increases the number of focal adhesions while decreasing their size and reduces adhesion energy and force. Additionally, we investigated its effects on the contractility of RPE-1 cells by measuring their contractile energy using pattern-based contractility screening (PaCS). We found no significant change in contractility after MiuA treatment. Finally, we confined RPE-1 cells in PDMS microchannels and analyzed their migration after treatment with MiuA, showing that neither their speed nor their persistence is affected by MiuA. To check that these effects are not specific to RPE-1 cells, we also analyzed the effects of MiuA treatment in MEF cells and neutrophils. Both MEF cells and neutrophils showed the same results as the RPE-1 cells. Our measurements indicate that, although altering focal adhesions significantly reduces adhesion, it does not impact cell contractility. This finding also clarifies why amoeboid migration, which operates independently of adhesion, remains unaffected. Additionally, it explains the previously observed reduction in mesenchymal migration, which relies on adhesion-based mechanisms.