Force- and cell state–dependent recruitment of Piezo1 drives focal adhesion dynamics and calcium entry

Mechanosensing is an integral part of many physiological processes including stem cell differentiation, fibrosis, and cancer progression. Two major mechanosensing systems – focal adhesions and mechanosensitive ion channels, can convert mechanical features of the microenvironment into biochemical signals. We report here surprisingly that the mechanosensitive Ca 2+ -channel Piezo1, previously perceived to be diffusive on plasma membranes, binds to matrix adhesions in a force-dependent manner, promoting adhesion maturation and cell spreading in normal but not in tumor cells. In the absence of Piezo1, matrix adhesions are smaller in normal cells mimicking transformed cells where adhesions do not change with or without Piezo1. A novel adhesion-targeted calcium sensor shows robust Piezo1-dependent, calcium influx at adhesions in normal cells; but not in transformed cells. A linker domain in Piezo1 is needed for binding to adhesions and overexpression of the domain blocks Piezo1 binding to adhesions decreasing adhesion size and cell spread area. Thus, we suggest that Piezo1 is a novel component of focal adhesions in non-transformed cells that catalyzes adhesion maturation and growth through force-dependent calcium signaling, but this function is absent in most cancer cells.