Anchorage of Microtubule Minus Ends to Adherens Junctions Regulates Epithelial Cell-Cell Contacts

Mechanisms involved in maintaining plasma membrane domains in fully polarized epithelial cells are known, but when and how directed protein sorting and trafficking occur to initiate cell surface polarity are not. We tested whether establishment of the basolateral membrane domain and E-cadherin–mediated epithelial cell–cell adhesion are mechanistically linked. We show that the basolateral membrane aquaporin (AQP)-3, but not the equivalent apical membrane AQP5, is delivered in post-Golgi structures directly to forming cell–cell contacts where it co-accumulates precisely with E-cadherin. Functional disruption of individual components of a putative lateral targeting patch (e.g., microtubules, the exocyst, and soluble N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) did not inhibit cell–cell adhesion or colocalization of the other components with E-cadherin, but each blocked AQP3 delivery to forming cell–cell contacts. Thus, components of the lateral targeting patch localize independently of each other to cell–cell contacts but collectively function as a holocomplex to specify basolateral vesicle delivery to nascent cell–cell contacts and immediately initiate cell surface polarity.

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Environmental contaminant ammonia triggers epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-mediated jejunal fibrosis with the disassembly of epithelial cell-cell contacts in chicken

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138686 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 726 ◽

pp. 138686 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hongyuan Jing ◽

Shengchen Wang ◽

Yue Wang ◽

Naiwen Shen ◽

Xue-jiao Gao

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cell ◽

Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Environmental Contaminant ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Cell Contacts ◽

Cell Cell

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Assembly of adherens junctions is required for sphingosine 1-phosphate-induced matriptase accumulation and activation at mammary epithelial cell-cell contacts

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.00400.2003 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 286 (5) ◽

pp. C1159-C1169 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Ruei-Jiun Hung ◽

Ia-Wen J. Hsu ◽

Jennifer L. Dreiling ◽

Mon-Juan Lee ◽

Cicely A. Williams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Mammary Epithelial Cells ◽

Adherens Junctions ◽

Adherens Junction ◽

Mammary Epithelial ◽

Cell Junctions ◽

Cell Contacts ◽

Cytoskeletal Rearrangement ◽

Sphingosine 1 Phosphate ◽

Cell Cell

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive phospholipid, simultaneously induces actin cytoskeletal rearrangements and activation of matriptase, a membrane-associated serine protease in human mammary epithelial cells. In this study, we used a monoclonal antibody selective for activated, two-chain matriptase to examine the functional relationship between these two S1P-induced events. Ten minutes after exposure of 184 A1N4 mammary epithelial cells to S1P, matriptase was observed to accumulate at cell-cell contacts. Activated matriptase first began to appear as small spots at cell-cell contacts, and then its deposits elongated along cell-cell contacts. Concomitantly, S1P induced assembly of adherens junctions and subcortical actin belts. Matriptase localization was observed to be coincident with markers of adherens junctions at cell-cell contacts but likely not to be incorporated into the tightly bound adhesion plaque. Disruption of subcortical actin belt formation and prevention of adherens junction assembly led to prevention of accumulation and activation of the protease at cell-cell contacts. These data suggest that S1P-induced accumulation and activation of matriptase depend on the S1P-induced adherens junction assembly. Although MAb M32, directed against one of the low-density lipoprotein receptor class A domains of matriptase, blocked S1P-induced activation of the enzyme, the antibody had no effect on S1P-induced actin cytoskeletal rearrangement. Together, these data indicate that actin cytoskeletal rearrangement is necessary but not sufficient for S1P-induced activation of matriptase at cell-cell contacts. The coupling of matriptase activation to adherens junction assembly and actin cytoskeletal rearrangement may serve to ensure tight control of matriptase activity, restricted to cell-cell junctions of mammary epithelial cells.

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Distinct Rho GTPase Activities Regulate Epithelial Cell Localization of the Adhesion Molecule CEACAM1: Involvement of the CEACAM1 Transmembrane Domain

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.23.20.7291-7304.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 23 (20) ◽

pp. 7291-7304 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Bénédicte Fournès ◽

Jennifer Farrah ◽

Melanie Olson ◽

Nathalie Lamarche-Vane ◽

Nicole Beauchemin

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cell ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Rho Gtpases ◽

Rho Gtpase ◽

Transmembrane Domain ◽

Rho Kinase ◽

Cell Contacts ◽

Cell Localization ◽

Downstream Effector ◽

Cell Cell

ABSTRACT CEACAM1 is an intercellular adhesion glycoprotein. As CEACAM1 plays an important role in epithelial cell signaling and functions, we have examined its localization in epithelial cells. We have observed that distribution at cell contacts is not always seen in these cells, suggesting that CEACAM1 localization might be regulated. In Swiss 3T3 cells, the targeting of CEACAM1 at cell-cell boundaries is regulated by the Rho GTPases. In the present study, we have used the MDCK epithelial cells to characterize the effects of the Rho GTPases and their effectors on CEACAM1 intercellular targeting. Activated Cdc42 and Rac1 or their downstream effector PAK1 targeted CEACAM1 to sites of cell-cell contacts. On the other hand, neither activated RhoA nor activated Rho kinase directed CEACAM1 to cell boundaries, resulting in a condensed distribution of CEACAM1 at the cell surface. Interestingly, inhibition of this pathway resulted in CEACAM1 intercellular localization suggesting that a tightly regulated balance of Rho GTPase activities is necessary to target CEACAM1 at cell-cell boundaries. In addition, using CEACAM1 mutants and chimeric fusion constructs containing domains of the colony-stimulating factor receptor, we have shown that the transmembrane domain of CEACAM1 is responsible for the Cdc42-induced targeting at cell-cell contacts.

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RAC1 Regulates Adherens Junctions through Endocytosis of E-Cadherin

Molecular Biology of the Cell ◽

10.1091/mbc.12.4.847 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 847-862 ◽

Cited By ~ 144

Author(s):

Nasreen Akhtar ◽

Neil A. Hotchin

Keyword(s):

Cell Adhesion ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

Adherens Junctions ◽

Expression Vectors ◽

Epidermal Keratinocytes ◽

Human Epidermal Keratinocytes ◽

Cell Contacts ◽

Green Fluorescent ◽

E Cadherin ◽

Cell Cell

The establishment of cadherin-dependent cell–cell contacts in human epidermal keratinocytes are known to be regulated by the Rac1 small GTP-binding protein, although the mechanisms by which Rac1 participates in the assembly or disruption of cell–cell adhesion are not well understood. In this study we utilized green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Rac1 expression vectors to examine the subcellular distribution of Rac1 and its effects on E-cadherin–mediated cell–cell adhesion. Microinjection of keratinocytes with constitutively active Rac1 resulted in cell spreading and disruption of cell–cell contacts. The ability of Rac1 to disrupt cell–cell adhesion was dependent on colony size, with large established colonies being resistant to the effects of active Rac1. Disruption of cell–cell contacts in small preconfluent colonies was achieved through the selective recruitment of E-cadherin–catenin complexes to the perimeter of multiple large intracellular vesicles, which were bounded by GFP-tagged L61Rac1. Similar vesicles were observed in noninjected keratinocytes when cell–cell adhesion was disrupted by removal of extracellular calcium or with the use of an E-cadherin blocking antibody. Moreover, formation of these structures in noninjected keratinocytes was dependent on endogenous Rac1 activity. Expression of GFP-tagged effector mutants of Rac1 in keratinocytes demonstrated that reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton was important for vesicle formation. Characterization of these Rac1-induced vesicles revealed that they were endosomal in nature and tightly colocalized with the transferrin receptor, a marker for recycling endosomes. Expression of GFP-L61Rac1 inhibited uptake of transferrin-biotin, suggesting that the endocytosis of E-cadherin was a clathrin-independent mechanism. This was supported by the observation that caveolin, but not clathrin, localized around these structures. Furthermore, an inhibitory form of dynamin, known to inhibit internalization of caveolae, inhibited formation of cadherin vesicles. Our data suggest that Rac1 regulates adherens junctions via clathrin independent endocytosis of E-cadherin.

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Protein tyrosine phosphatase and SHP-1 are involved in the regulation of cell-cell contacts at adherens junctions in the exocrine pancreas

Gut ◽

10.1136/gut.2004.063164 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 54 (10) ◽

pp. 1445-1455 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

J Schnekenburger

Keyword(s):

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase ◽

Exocrine Pancreas ◽

Adherens Junctions ◽

Tyrosine Phosphatase ◽

Cell Contacts ◽

Protein Tyrosine ◽

Cell Cell

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Collective Mechanical Responses of Cadherin-Based Adhesive Junctions as Predicted by Simulations

10.1101/2021.07.29.454068 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Brandon L Neel ◽

Collin R Nisler ◽

Sanket Walujkar ◽

Raul Araya-Secchi ◽

Marcos Sotomayor

Keyword(s):

Adherens Junctions ◽

Tensile Force ◽

Adherens Junction ◽

Structural Models ◽

Elastic Response ◽

Linear Arrangement ◽

Additional Function ◽

Cell Contacts ◽

Mechanical Responses ◽

Cell Cell

Cadherin-based adherens junctions and desmosomes help stabilize cell-cell contacts with additional function in mechano-signaling, while clustered protocadherin junctions are responsible for directing neuronal circuits assembly. Structural models for adherens junctions formed by epithelial cadherin (CDH1) proteins indicate that their long, curved ectodomains arrange to form a periodic, two-dimensional lattice stabilized by tip-to-tip trans interactions (across junction) and lateral cis contacts. Less is known about the exact architecture of desmosomes, but desmoglein (DSG) and desmocollin (DSC) cadherin proteins are also thought to form ordered junctions. In contrast, clustered protocadherin (PCDH) based cell-cell contacts in neuronal tissues are thought to be responsible for self-recognition and avoidance, and structural models for clustered PCDH junctions show a linear arrangement in which their long and straight ectodomains form antiparallel overlapped trans complexes. Here we report all-atom molecular dynamics simulations testing the mechanics of minimalistic adhesive junctions formed by CDH1, DSG2 coupled to DSC1, and PCDHγB4, with systems encompassing up to 3.7 million atoms. Simulations generally predict a favored shearing pathway for the adherens junction model and a two-phased elastic response to tensile forces for the adhesive adherens junction and the desmosome models. Complexes within these junctions first unbend at low tensile force and then become stiff to unbind without unfolding. However, cis interactions in both the CDH1 and DSG2-DSC1 systems dictate varied mechanical responses of individual dimers within the junctions. Conversely, the clustered protocadherin PCDHγB4 junction lacks a distinct two-phased elastic response. Instead, applied tensile force strains trans interactions directly as there is little unbending of monomers within the junction. Transient intermediates, influenced by new cis interactions, are observed after the main rupture event. We suggest that these collective, complex mechanical responses mediated by cis contacts facilitate distinct functions in robust cell-cell adhesion for classical cadherins and in self-avoidance signaling for clustered PCDHs.

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