Figure 9. Vinculin controls cell migration and cell cycle progression through its ability to interact with the Arp2/3 complex.

The vinculin–Arp2/3 interaction antagonizes branched actin polymerization in membrane protrusion and inhibits migration persistence of single cells. The actin reinforcement provided by vinculin stabilizes cell–cell junctions. Subsequent vinculin-dependent recruitment of Arp2/3 at cell–cell junctions is likely to contribute to the Arp2/3-dependent role of vinculin in collective migration and density-dependent inhibition of cell cycle progression.