The study challenges the long-held belief that α-catenin links cadherin-catenin complexes to the actin cytoskeleton. Using purified proteins and membrane patches, the researchers found that α-catenin cannot simultaneously bind to the E-cadherin-β-catenin complex and actin filaments. This mutual exclusivity was observed in vitro and on isolated membrane patches, indicating that the cadherin-catenin complex and actin filaments are not directly linked. Additionally, the study shows that actin binding proteins like vinculin and α-actinin do not mediate this link. In live cells, the dynamics of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and α-catenin at cell-cell contacts were similar, while actin and other actin-binding proteins had higher mobility. These findings suggest that the cadherin-catenin complex is not stably linked to actin filaments, and that actin filaments at cell-cell contacts are highly dynamic, rapidly exchanging with a cytoplasmic pool. The results indicate that the previous understanding of how cadherins interact with the actin cytoskeleton needs to be reassessed. The study also shows that actin binding proteins do not exhibit α-catenin-like turnover, and that disrupting actin organization does not affect the dynamics of the cadherin-catenin complex. Overall, the findings challenge the traditional view of cadherin-actin linkage and highlight the dynamic nature of cell-cell adhesion.The study challenges the long-held belief that α-catenin links cadherin-catenin complexes to the actin cytoskeleton. Using purified proteins and membrane patches, the researchers found that α-catenin cannot simultaneously bind to the E-cadherin-β-catenin complex and actin filaments. This mutual exclusivity was observed in vitro and on isolated membrane patches, indicating that the cadherin-catenin complex and actin filaments are not directly linked. Additionally, the study shows that actin binding proteins like vinculin and α-actinin do not mediate this link. In live cells, the dynamics of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and α-catenin at cell-cell contacts were similar, while actin and other actin-binding proteins had higher mobility. These findings suggest that the cadherin-catenin complex is not stably linked to actin filaments, and that actin filaments at cell-cell contacts are highly dynamic, rapidly exchanging with a cytoplasmic pool. The results indicate that the previous understanding of how cadherins interact with the actin cytoskeleton needs to be reassessed. The study also shows that actin binding proteins do not exhibit α-catenin-like turnover, and that disrupting actin organization does not affect the dynamics of the cadherin-catenin complex. Overall, the findings challenge the traditional view of cadherin-actin linkage and highlight the dynamic nature of cell-cell adhesion.