Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Apical-basal polarity is essential for the formation and function of epithelial tissues, whereas loss of polarity is a hallmark of tumours. Studies in Drosophila have identified conserved polarity factors that define the apical (Crumbs, Stardust, Par-6, atypical protein kinase C [aPKC]), junctional (Bazooka [Baz]/Par-3), and basolateral (Scribbled [Scrib], Discs large [Dlg], Lethal [2] giant larvae [Lgl]) domains of epithelial cells. Because these conserved factors mark equivalent domains in diverse types of vertebrate and invertebrate epithelia, it is generally assumed that this system underlies polarity in all epithelia. Here, we show that this is not the case, as none of these canonical factors are required for the polarisation of the endodermal epithelium of the Drosophila adult midgut. Furthermore, like vertebrate epithelia but not other Drosophila epithelia, the midgut epithelium forms occluding junctions above adherens junctions (AJs) and requires the integrin adhesion complex for polarity. Thus, Drosophila contains two types of epithelia that polarise by fundamentally different mechanisms. This diversity of epithelial types may reflect their different developmental origins, junctional arrangement, or whether they polarise in an apical-basal direction or vice versa. Since knock-outs of canonical polarity factors in vertebrates often have little or no effect on epithelial polarity and the Drosophila midgut shares several common features with vertebrate epithelia, this diversity of polarity mechanisms is likely to be conserved in other animals.
Source: PLoS Biology
Authors: Jia Chen, Aram-Christopher Sayadian, Nick Lowe, Holly E. Lovegrove, Daniel St Johnston
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,364
Funders: Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK
Awards: Mechanisms of epithelial polarity in flies and mammals, Core support for the Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute., Mechanisms of cell polarity and mRNA localisation in the Drosophila oocyte., G4041807368, Mechanisms of cell polarity and mRNA localisation in the Drosophila oocyte., Gurdon Institute Centre Renewal, Epithelial polarity in the Drosophila midgut., G689632234, Gurdon Institute Centre Extension, Mechanisms of epithelial polarity in flies and mammals, G7238484650, G7505324234, Core support for the Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute., G8961340570, G9000108903, Developmental Biology
OpenAlex ID: W2799242296