A Mechanical G2 Checkpoint Controls Epithelial Cell Division through E-Cadherin-Mediated Regulation of Wee1-Cdk1

Scientists showed that epithelial cells sensed local cell density through mechanosensitive E-cadherin adhesions to control G2/M cell-cycle progression. As local cell density increased, tensile forces on E-cadherin adhesions were reduced, which prompts the accumulation of the G2 checkpoint kinase Wee1 and downstream inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdk1.