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Campàs O, Noordstra I, Yap AS. Adherens junctions as molecular regulators of emergent tissue mechanics. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:252-269. [PMID: 38093099 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00688-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Tissue and organ development during embryogenesis relies on the collective and coordinated action of many cells. Recent studies have revealed that tissue material properties, including transitions between fluid and solid tissue states, are controlled in space and time to shape embryonic structures and regulate cell behaviours. Although the collective cellular flows that sculpt tissues are guided by tissue-level physical changes, these ultimately emerge from cellular-level and subcellular-level molecular mechanisms. Adherens junctions are key subcellular structures, built from clusters of classical cadherin receptors. They mediate physical interactions between cells and connect biochemical signalling to the physical characteristics of cell contacts, hence playing a fundamental role in tissue morphogenesis. In this Review, we take advantage of the results of recent, quantitative measurements of tissue mechanics to relate the molecular and cellular characteristics of adherens junctions, including adhesion strength, tension and dynamics, to the emergent physical state of embryonic tissues. We focus on systems in which cell-cell interactions are the primary contributor to morphogenesis, without significant contribution from cell-matrix interactions. We suggest that emergent tissue mechanics is an important direction for future research, bridging cell biology, developmental biology and mechanobiology to provide a holistic understanding of morphogenesis in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otger Campàs
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Ivar Noordstra
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alpha S Yap
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
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Iwanaga R, Yahagi N, Hakeda-Suzuki S, Suzuki T. Cell adhesion and actin dynamics factors promote axonal extension and synapse formation in transplanted Drosophila photoreceptor cells. Dev Growth Differ 2024; 66:205-218. [PMID: 38403285 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Vision is formed by the transmission of light stimuli to the brain through axons extending from photoreceptor cells. Damage to these axons leads to loss of vision. Despite research on neural circuit regeneration through transplantation, achieving precise axon projection remains challenging. To achieve optic nerve regeneration by transplantation, we employed the Drosophila visual system. We previously established a transplantation method for Drosophila utilizing photoreceptor precursor cells extracted from the eye disc. However, little axonal elongation of transplanted cells into the brain, the lamina, was observed. We verified axonal elongation to the lamina by modifying the selection process for transplanted cells. Moreover, we focused on N-cadherin (Ncad), a cell adhesion factor, and Twinstar (Tsr), which has been shown to promote actin reorganization and induce axon elongation in damaged nerves. Overexpression of Ncad and tsr promoted axon elongation to the lamina, along with presynaptic structure formation in the elongating axons. Furthermore, overexpression of Neurexin-1 (Nrx-1), encoding a protein identified as a synaptic organizer, was found to not only promote presynapse formation but also enhance axon elongation. By introducing Ncad, tsr, and Nrx-1, we not only successfully achieved axonal projection of transplanted cells to the brain beyond the retina, but also confirmed the projection of transplanted cells into a deeper ganglion, the medulla. The present study offers valuable insights to realize regeneration through transplantation in a more complex nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riku Iwanaga
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokahama, Japan
| | - Nagisa Yahagi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokahama, Japan
| | - Satoko Hakeda-Suzuki
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokahama, Japan
- Research Initiatives and Promotion Organization, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokahama, Japan
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Mann Z, Lim F, Verma S, Nanavati BN, Davies JM, Begun J, Hardeman EC, Gunning PW, Subramanyam D, Yap AS, Duszyc K. Preexisting tissue mechanical hypertension at adherens junctions disrupts apoptotic extrusion in epithelia. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:br3. [PMID: 37903230 PMCID: PMC10881161 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-08-0337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Apical extrusion is a tissue-intrinsic process that allows epithelia to eliminate unfit or surplus cells. This is exemplified by the early extrusion of apoptotic cells, which is critical to maintain the epithelial barrier and prevent inflammation. Apoptotic extrusion is an active mechanical process, which involves mechanotransduction between apoptotic cells and their neighbors, as well as local changes in tissue mechanics. Here we report that the preexisting mechanical tension at adherens junctions (AJs) conditions the efficacy of apoptotic extrusion. Specifically, increasing baseline mechanical tension by overexpression of a phosphomimetic Myosin II regulatory light chain (MRLC) compromises apoptotic extrusion. This occurs when tension is increased in either the apoptotic cell or its surrounding epithelium. Further, we find that the proinflammatory cytokine, TNFα, stimulates Myosin II and increases baseline AJ tension to disrupt apical extrusion, causing apoptotic cells to be retained in monolayers. Importantly, reversal of mechanical tension with an inhibitory MRLC mutant or tropomyosin inhibitors is sufficient to restore apoptotic extrusion in TNFα-treated monolayers. Together, these findings demonstrate that baseline levels of tissue tension are important determinants of apoptotic extrusion, which can potentially be coopted by pathogenetic factors to disrupt the homeostatic response of epithelia to apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoya Mann
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Fayth Lim
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Suzie Verma
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Bageshri N. Nanavati
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Julie M. Davies
- Mater Research – The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia 4102
| | - Jakob Begun
- Mater Research – The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia 4102
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mater Hospital Brisbane, South Brisbane, Australia 4101
| | - Edna C. Hardeman
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Univeristy of New South Wales Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2052
| | - Peter W. Gunning
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Univeristy of New South Wales Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2052
| | - Deepa Subramanyam
- National Centre for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India
| | - Alpha S. Yap
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Kinga Duszyc
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 4072
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Schimmel L, Noordstra I. Epithelial cell spreading assay on E-cadherin-coated glass or PDMS substrates for microscopy-based analysis of cadherin adhesions. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102626. [PMID: 37792537 PMCID: PMC10568414 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Adherens junctions (AJs) are multi-protein adhesion structures that couple contractile actomyosin networks of epithelial cells within a tissue. Here, we present an epithelial cell spreading assay on E-cadherin-coated glass or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates for detailed microscopy-based analysis of cadherin adhesions. We describe steps for preparation of glass coverslips and PDMS gels, E-cadherin coating, and epithelial cell spreading. Epithelial cells can be seeded on E-cadherin-coated surfaces, thereby mimicking AJ formation in X-Y dimension, making it suitable for microscopy analysis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Noordstra et al. (2023).1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Schimmel
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ivar Noordstra
- Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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Shivashankar GV. Mechanical forces and the 3D genome. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 83:102728. [PMID: 37948897 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Traditionally, the field of genomics has been studied from a biochemical perspective. Besides chemical influences, cells are subject to a variety of mechanical signals from their surrounding tissue microenvironment. These mechanical signals can not only cause changes to a cell's physical structure but can also lead to alterations in their genomes and gene expression programs. Understanding the mechanical control of genome organization and expression may provide a new perspective on gene regulation.
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Brooks JW, Tillu V, Eckert J, Verma S, Collins BM, Parton RG, Yap AS. Caveola mechanotransduction reinforces the cortical cytoskeleton to promote epithelial resilience. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:ar120. [PMID: 37672337 PMCID: PMC10846620 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-05-0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
As physical barriers, epithelia must preserve their integrity when challenged by mechanical stresses. Cell-cell junctions linked to the cortical cytoskeleton play key roles in this process, often with mechanotransduction mechanisms that reinforce tissues. Caveolae are mechanosensitive organelles that buffer tension via disassembly. Loss of caveolae, through caveolin-1 or cavin1 depletion, causes activation of PtdIns(4, 5)P2 signaling, recruitment of FMNL2 formin, and enhanced-cortical actin assembly. How this equates to physiological responses in epithelial cells containing endogenous caveolae is unknown. Here we examined the effect of mechanically inducing acute disassembly of caveolae in epithelia. We show that perturbation of caveolae, through direct mechanical stress, reinforces the actin cortex at adherens junctions. Increasing interactions with membrane lipids by introducing multiple phosphatidylserine-binding undecad cavin1 (UC1) repeat domains into cavin1 rendered caveolae more stable to mechanical stimuli. This molecular stabilization blocked cortical reinforcement in response to mechanical stress. Cortical reinforcement elicited by the mechanically induced disassembly of caveolae increased epithelial resilience against tensile stresses. These findings identify the actin cortex as a target of caveola mechanotransduction that contributes to epithelial integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W. Brooks
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Vikas Tillu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Julia Eckert
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Suzie Verma
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Brett M. Collins
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Robert G. Parton
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 4072
- Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Alpha S. Yap
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 4072
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