AmotL2 integrates polarity and junctional cues to modulate cell shape

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 8;7(1):7548. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07968-1.

Abstract

The assembly of individual epithelial or endothelial cells into a tight cellular sheet requires stringent control of cell packing and organization. These processes are dependent on the establishment and further integration of cellular junctions, the cytoskeleton and the formation of apical-basal polarity. However, little is known how these subcellular events are coordinated. The (Angiomotin) Amot protein family consists of scaffold proteins that interact with junctional cadherins, polarity proteins and the cytoskeleton. In this report, we have studied how these protein complexes integrate to control cellular shapes consistent with organ function. Using gene-inactivating studies in zebrafish and cell culture systems in vitro, we show that Par3 to be essential for localization of AmotL2 to cellular junctions to associate with VE/E-cadherin and subsequently the organization of radial actin filaments. Our data provide mechanistic insight in how critical processes such as aortic lumen expansion as well as epithelial packing into hexagonal shapes are controlled.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / genetics
  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Adherens Junctions / metabolism*
  • Angiomotins
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Polarity / genetics*
  • Cell Shape / genetics*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / embryology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • RNA Interference
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiomotins
  • Cadherins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • amotl2a protein, zebrafish
  • pard3ab protein, zebrafish