Tension-dependent stretching and folding of ZO-1 controls the localization of its interactors

Tensile forces regulate epithelial homeostasis, but the molecular mechanisms behind this regulation are poorly understood. Using structured illumination microscopy and proximity ligation assays we show that the tight junction protein ZO-1 undergoes actomyosin tension-dependent stretching and folding in vivo. Magnetic tweezers experiments using purified ZO-1 indicate that pN-scale tensions (~2-4 pN) are sufficient to maintain the stretched conformation of ZO-1, while keeping its structured domains intact. Actomyosin tension and substrate stiffness regulate the localization and expression of the transcription factor DbpA and the tight junction membrane protein occludin in a ZO-1/ZO-2-dependent manner, resulting in modulation of gene expression, cell proliferation, barrier function and cyst morphogenesis. Interactions between the N-terminal (ZPSG) and C-terminal domains of ZO-1 prevent binding of DbpA to the ZPSG, and folding is antagonized by heterodimerization with ZO-2. We propose that tensile forces regulate epithelial homeostasis by activating ZO proteins through stretching, to modulate their protein interactions and downstream signaling.