Adhesion regulates MAP kinase/ternary complex factor exchange to control a proliferative transcriptional switch.

Background: The ternary complex factors (TCFs; Elk1, Net, and Sap-1) are growth factor-responsive transcription cofactors of serum response factor (SRF) and are activated by MAP kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation to regulate immediate early gene transcription. Although cell adhesion also can regulate immediate early genes and proliferation, the mechanism for this effect has remained unexplored.

Results: Restricting adhesion and spreading of G(0)-synchronized cells on substrates with decreasing size of micropatterned islands of fibronectin suppressed serum-induced immediate early gene expression and S phase entry.