Keratocytes Generate High Integrin Tension at the Trailing Edge to Mediate Rear De-adhesion during Rapid Cell Migration

Rapid cell migration requires efficient rear de-adhesion. It remains undetermined whether cells mechanically detach or biochemically disassemble integrin-mediated rear adhesion sites in highly motile cells such as keratocytes. Using molecular tension sensor, we calibrated and mapped integrin tension in migrating keratocytes. Our experiments revealed that high-level integrin tension abbreviated as HIT, in the range of 50–100 pN (piconewton) and capable of rupturing integrin-ligand bonds, is exclusively and narrowly generated at cell rear margin during cell migration. Co-imaging of HIT and focal adhesions (FAs) shows that HIT is produced to mechanically peel off FAs that lag behind, and HIT intensity is correlated with the local cell retraction rate. High-level molecular tension was also consistently generated at the cell margin during artificially induced cell front retraction and during keratocyte migration mediated by biotin-streptavidin bonds. Collectively, these experiments provide direct evidence showing that migrating keratocytes concentrate force at the cell rear margin to mediate rear de-adhesion.