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Actin at cell-cell junctions is composed of two dynamic and functional populations

Zhang, J.; Betson, M.; Erasmus, J.; Zeikos, K.; Bailly, M.; Cramer, L.P.; Braga, V.M.M.; (2005) Actin at cell-cell junctions is composed of two dynamic and functional populations. Journal of Cell Science , 118 (23) pp. 5549-5562. 10.1242/jcs.02639. Green open access

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Abstract

The ability of epithelial cells to polarize requires cell-cell adhesion mediated by cadherin receptors. During cell-cell contact, the mechanism via which a flat, spread cell shape is changed into a tall, cuboidal epithelial morphology is not known. We found that cadherin-dependent adhesion modulates actin dynamics by triggering changes in actin organization both locally at junctions and within the rest of the cell. Upon induction of cell-cell contacts, two spatial actin populations are distinguishable: junctional actin and peripheral thin bundles. With time, the relative position of these two populations changes and becomes indistinguishable to form a cortical actin ring that is characteristic of mature, fully polarized epithelial cells. Junctional actin and thin actin bundles differ in their actin dynamics and mechanism of formation, and interestingly, have distinct roles during epithelial polarization. Whereas junctional actin stabilizes clustered cadherin receptors at cell-cell contacts, contraction of peripheral actin bundle is essential for an increase in the maximum height at the lateral domain during polarization (cuboidal morphology). Thus, both junctional actin and thin bundles are necessary, and cooperate with each other to generate a polarized epithelial morphology.

Type: Article
Title: Actin at cell-cell junctions is composed of two dynamic and functional populations
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1242/jcs.02639
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.02639
Language: English
Keywords: Microfilaments, keratinocytes, actin bundles, cadherins, cell-cell contact
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Institute of Ophthalmology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Lab for Molecular Cell Bio MRC-UCL
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/8338
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