Figure 2.

Talin links are extended in a substrate stiffness-dependent manner. (a) The relationship between extension of talin links at the end of their lifetime (t = 3 s) and substrate stiffness. Traces for focal complexes (500 nm in diameter) with the different number of talin links are shown. The order of traces is the same as that of legends. In each trace, the length of talin extension is increased to the plateau value (vτ ≈ 210 nm) with increasing stiffness of the substrate. When talin links are extended by more than or equal to 100 nm (yellow zone), vinculin binds to talin. (b) The critical stiffness of the substrate which yields 100 nm extension of talin links varies with the number of talin links in a focal complex. (Online version in colour.)