Specialized protrusions coordinate migratory border cell cluster cohesion via Scribble, Cdep, and Rac
Apicobasal polarity is a defining characteristic of epithelial cells and its disruption is a cancer hallmark. Distinct apical and basolateral protein modules antagonize each other to establish separate membrane domains. These modules interact with dozens of potential effector proteins. Here we describe polarity protein localization and function within a migrating epithelial cell cluster and identify a functionally significant effector protein. In Drosophila egg chambers, border cells delaminate from the follicular epithelium and migrate collectively. We report that the basolateral protein Scribble is required for border cell cluster cohesion and migration. The basolateral module localizes the Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor Cdep to membranes, and Cdep knockdown phenocopies Scribble cluster cohesion defects. Remarkably, membrane targeting of Cdep is sufficient to partially suppress multiple Scribble phenotypes. We describe specialized basolateral protrusions that promote cluster cohesion. Scribble restricts these protrusions from encroaching onto the apical domain. Thus, a major function of the basolateral module is to localize Cdep, promoting specialized protrusions, cluster cohesion, and collective migration.