Work

Cadherin 99C regulates apical expansion and cell rearrangement during epithelial tube elongation

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Apical and basolateral determinants specify and maintain membrane domains in epithelia. Here, we identify new roles for two apical surface proteins - Cadherin 99C (Cad99C) and Stranded at Second (SAS) - in conferring apical character in Drosophila tubular epithelia. Cad99C, the Drosophila ortholog of human Usher protocadherin PCDH15, is expressed in several embryonic tubular epithelial structures. Through loss-of-function and overexpression studies, we show that Cad99C is required to regulate cell rearrangement during salivary tube elongation. We further show that overexpression of either Cad99C or SAS causes a dramatic increase in apical membrane at the expense of other membrane domains, and that both proteins can do this independently of each other and independently of mislocalization of the apical determinant Crumbs (Crb). Overexpression of Cad99C or SAS results in similar, but distinct effects, suggesting both shared and unique roles for these proteins in conferring apical identity.

Source: Development

DOI: 10.1242/dev.104166

Authors: SeYeon Chung, Deborah J. Andrew

Institutions: Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Johns Hopkins University, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Center for Research Resources

Awards: Zeiss LSM780 Confocal Microscope for a Core Facility, G2258513736, Request for Leica High-pressure Freezer and Automated Freeze-substitution System, G8609204177, Formation of the Drosophila salivary gland