1
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Ansel M, Ramachandran K, Dey G, Brunet T. Origin and evolution of microvilli. Biol Cell 2024:e2400054. [PMID: 39233537 DOI: 10.1111/boc.202400054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Microvilli are finger-like, straight, and stable cellular protrusions that are filled with F-actin and present a stereotypical length. They are present in a broad range of cell types across the animal tree of life and mediate several fundamental functions, including nutrient absorption, photosensation, and mechanosensation. Therefore, understanding the origin and evolution of microvilli is key to reconstructing the evolution of animal cellular form and function. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on microvilli evolution and perform a bioinformatic survey of the conservation of genes encoding microvillar proteins in animals and their unicellular relatives. RESULTS We first present a detailed description of mammalian microvilli based on two well-studied examples, the brush border microvilli of enterocytes and the stereocilia of hair cells. We also survey the broader diversity of microvilli and discuss similarities and differences between microvilli and filopodia. Based on our bioinformatic survey coupled with carefully reconstructed molecular phylogenies, we reconstitute the order of evolutionary appearance of microvillar proteins. We document the stepwise evolutionary assembly of the "molecular microvillar toolkit" with notable bursts of innovation at two key nodes: the last common filozoan ancestor (correlated with the evolution of microvilli distinct from filopodia) and the last common choanozoan ancestor (correlated with the emergence of inter-microvillar adhesions). CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE We conclude with a scenario for the evolution of microvilli from filopodia-like ancestral structures in unicellular precursors of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mylan Ansel
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR3691, Evolutionary Cell Biology and Evolution of Morphogenesis Unit, Paris, France
- Cell Biology and Biophysics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Master BioSciences, Département de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Kaustubh Ramachandran
- Cell Biology and Biophysics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gautam Dey
- Cell Biology and Biophysics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thibaut Brunet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR3691, Evolutionary Cell Biology and Evolution of Morphogenesis Unit, Paris, France
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2
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Torzone SK, Breen PC, Cohen NR, Simmons KN, Dowen RH. The TWK-26 potassium channel governs nutrient absorption in the C. elegans intestine. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.06.592787. [PMID: 38766028 PMCID: PMC11100751 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.06.592787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Ion channels are necessary for proper water and nutrient absorption in the intestine, which supports cellular metabolism and organismal growth. While a role for Na + co-transporters and pumps in intestinal nutrient absorption is well defined, how individual K + uniporters function to maintain ion homeostasis is poorly understood. Using Caenorhabditis elegans , we show that a gain-of-function mutation in twk-26 , which encodes a two-pore domain K + ion channel orthologous to human KCNK3, facilitates nutrient absorption and suppresses the metabolic and developmental defects displayed by impaired intestinal MAP Kinase (MAPK) signaling. Mutations in drl-1 and flr-4, which encode two components of this MAPK pathway, cause severe growth defects, reduced lipid storage, and a dramatic increase in autophagic lysosomes, which mirror dietary restriction phenotypes. Additionally, these MAPK mutants display structural defects of the intestine and an impaired defecation motor program. We find that activation of TWK-26 reverses the dietary restriction-like state of the MAPK mutants by restoring intestinal nutrient absorption without correcting the intestinal bloating or defecation defects. This study provides unique insight into the mechanisms by which intestinal K + ion channels support intestinal metabolic homeostasis.
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3
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Demouchy F, Nicolle O, Michaux G, Pacquelet A. PAR-4/LKB1 prevents intestinal hyperplasia by restricting endoderm specification in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Development 2024; 151:dev202205. [PMID: 38078543 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The kinase PAR-4/LKB1 is a major regulator of intestinal homeostasis, which prevents polyposis in humans. Moreover, its ectopic activation is sufficient to induce polarization and formation of microvilli-like structures in intestinal cell lines. Here, we use Caenorhabditis elegans to examine the role of PAR-4 during intestinal development in vivo. We show that it is not required to establish enterocyte polarity and plays only a minor role in brush border formation. By contrast, par-4 mutants display severe deformations of the intestinal lumen as well as supernumerary intestinal cells, thereby revealing a previously unappreciated function of PAR-4 in preventing intestinal hyperplasia. The presence of supernumerary enterocytes in par-4 mutants is not due to excessive cell proliferation, but rather to the abnormal expression of the intestinal cell fate factors end-1 and elt-2 outside the E lineage. Notably, par-4 mutants also display reduced expression of end-1 and elt-2 inside the E lineage. Our work thereby unveils an essential and dual role of PAR-4, which both restricts intestinal specification to the E lineage and ensures its robust differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Demouchy
- University of Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et de Développement de Rennes), UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Ophélie Nicolle
- University of Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et de Développement de Rennes), UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Grégoire Michaux
- University of Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et de Développement de Rennes), UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Anne Pacquelet
- University of Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et de Développement de Rennes), UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France
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4
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Zhang N, Zhang H, Khan LA, Jafari G, Eun Y, Membreno E, Gobel V. The biosynthetic-secretory pathway, supplemented by recycling routes, determines epithelial membrane polarity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade4620. [PMID: 37379377 PMCID: PMC10306302 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade4620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
In prevailing epithelial polarity models, membrane-based polarity cues (e.g., the partitioning-defective PARs) position apicobasal cellular membrane domains. Intracellular vesicular trafficking expands these domains by sorting polarized cargo toward them. How the polarity cues themselves are polarized in epithelia and how sorting confers long-range apicobasal directionality to vesicles is still unclear. Here, a systems-based approach using two-tiered C. elegans genomics-genetics screens identifies trafficking molecules that are not implicated in apical sorting yet polarize apical membrane and PAR complex components. Live tracking of polarized membrane biogenesis indicates that the biosynthetic-secretory pathway, linked to recycling routes, is asymmetrically oriented toward the apical domain during this domain's biosynthesis, and that this directionality is regulated upstream of PARs and independent of polarized target membrane domains. This alternative mode of membrane polarization could offer solutions to open questions in current models of epithelial polarity and polarized trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research by the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Liakot A. Khan
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gholamali Jafari
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yong Eun
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, NYC Health & Hospitals/Harlem, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Edward Membreno
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Verena Gobel
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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5
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Jafari G, Khan LA, Zhang H, Membreno E, Yan S, Dempsey G, Gobel V. Branched-chain actin dynamics polarizes vesicle trajectories and partitions apicobasal epithelial membrane domains. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade4022. [PMID: 37379384 PMCID: PMC10306301 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade4022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
In prevailing epithelial polarity models, membrane- and junction-based polarity cues such as the partitioning-defective PARs specify the positions of apicobasal membrane domains. Recent findings indicate, however, that intracellular vesicular trafficking can determine the position of the apical domain, upstream of membrane-based polarity cues. These findings raise the question of how vesicular trafficking becomes polarized independent of apicobasal target membrane domains. Here, we show that the apical directionality of vesicle trajectories depends on actin dynamics during de novo polarized membrane biogenesis in the C. elegans intestine. We find that actin, powered by branched-chain actin modulators, determines the polarized distribution of apical membrane components, PARs, and itself. Using photomodulation, we demonstrate that F-actin travels through the cytoplasm and along the cortex toward the future apical domain. Our findings support an alternative polarity model where actin-directed trafficking asymmetrically inserts the nascent apical domain into the growing epithelial membrane to partition apicobasal membrane domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gholamali Jafari
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, MGHfC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liakot A. Khan
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, MGHfC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, MGHfC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Edward Membreno
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, MGHfC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Siyang Yan
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, MGHfC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Graham Dempsey
- Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Verena Gobel
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Developmental Biology and Genetics Core, MGHfC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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6
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Naturale VF, Pickett MA, Feldman JL. Context matters: Lessons in epithelial polarity from the Caenorhabditis elegans intestine and other tissues. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 154:37-71. [PMID: 37100523 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Epithelia are tissues with diverse morphologies and functions across metazoans, ranging from vast cell sheets encasing internal organs to internal tubes facilitating nutrient uptake, all of which require establishment of apical-basolateral polarity axes. While all epithelia tend to polarize the same components, how these components are deployed to drive polarization is largely context-dependent and likely shaped by tissue-specific differences in development and ultimate functions of polarizing primordia. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) offers exceptional imaging and genetic tools and possesses unique epithelia with well-described origins and roles, making it an excellent model to investigate polarity mechanisms. In this review, we highlight the interplay between epithelial polarization, development, and function by describing symmetry breaking and polarity establishment in a particularly well-characterized epithelium, the C. elegans intestine. We compare intestinal polarization to polarity programs in two other C. elegans epithelia, the pharynx and epidermis, correlating divergent mechanisms with tissue-specific differences in geometry, embryonic environment, and function. Together, we emphasize the importance of investigating polarization mechanisms against the backdrop of tissue-specific contexts, while also underscoring the benefits of cross-tissue comparisons of polarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor F Naturale
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Melissa A Pickett
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, San José State University, San José, CA, United States
| | - Jessica L Feldman
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
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7
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Xu WT, Shi LL, Xu J, Qian H, Zhou H, Wang LH. Ezrin expression in female reproductive tissues: A review of regulation and pathophysiological implications. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1125881. [PMID: 36968198 PMCID: PMC10030596 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1125881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ezrin, a plasma membrane-microfilament linker, is a cytoskeletal organizer involved in many cellular activities by binding to the membrane protein-ezrin-cytoskeletal protein complex and regulating downstream signal transduction. Increasing evidence demonstrates that ezrin plays an important role in regulating cell polarity, proliferation and invasion. In this study, we analyzed the effects of ezrin on oocytes, follicle development, embryo development and embryo implantation. We reviewed the recent studies on the modalities of ezrin regulation and its involvement in the biological processes of female reproductive physiology and summarized the current research advances in ezrin inhibitors. These studies will provide new strategies and insights for the treatment of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ting Xu
- Department of Reproduction, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling-Li Shi
- Department of Reproduction, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Xu
- Translational Medical Innovation Center, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haiqing Qian
- Department of Reproduction, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huifang Zhou
- Department of Gynaecology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Huifang Zhou, ; Li-Hong Wang,
| | - Li-Hong Wang
- Department of Reproduction, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- *Correspondence: Huifang Zhou, ; Li-Hong Wang,
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8
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Winkenbach LP, Parker DM, Williams RTP, Nishimura EO. The ERM-1 membrane-binding domain directs erm-1 mRNA localization to the plasma membrane in the C. elegans embryo. Development 2022; 149:279335. [PMID: 36314842 PMCID: PMC9793419 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
mRNA localization and transport are integral in regulating gene expression. In Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, the maternally inherited mRNA erm-1 (Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin) becomes concentrated in anterior blastomeres. erm-1 mRNA localizes within those blastomeres to the plasma membrane where the essential ERM-1 protein, a membrane-actin linker, is also found. We demonstrate that the localization of erm-1 mRNA to the plasma membrane is translation dependent and requires its encoded N-terminal, membrane-binding (FERM) domain. By perturbing translation through multiple methods, we found that erm-1 mRNA localization at the plasma membrane persisted only if the nascent peptide remained in complex with the translating mRNA. Indeed, re-coding the erm-1 mRNA coding sequence while preserving the encoded amino acid sequence did not disrupt erm-1 mRNA localization, corroborating that the information directing mRNA localization resides within its membrane-binding protein domain. A single-molecule inexpensive fluorescence in situ hybridization screen of 17 genes encoding similar membrane-binding domains identified three plasma membrane-localized mRNAs in the early embryo. Ten additional transcripts showed potential membrane localization later in development. These findings point to a translation-dependent pathway for localization of mRNAs encoding membrane-associated proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay P. Winkenbach
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Dylan M. Parker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Robert T. P. Williams
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Erin Osborne Nishimura
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA,Author for correspondence ()
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9
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Pickett MA, Sallee MD, Cote L, Naturale VF, Akpinaroglu D, Lee J, Shen K, Feldman JL. Separable mechanisms drive local and global polarity establishment in the Caenorhabditiselegans intestinal epithelium. Development 2022; 149:dev200325. [PMID: 36264257 PMCID: PMC9845746 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Apico-basolateral polarization is essential for epithelial cells to function as selective barriers and transporters, and to provide mechanical resilience to organs. Epithelial polarity is established locally, within individual cells to establish distinct apical, junctional and basolateral domains, and globally, within a tissue where cells coordinately orient their apico-basolateral axes. Using live imaging of endogenously tagged proteins and tissue-specific protein depletion in the Caenorhabditiselegans embryonic intestine, we found that local and global polarity establishment are temporally and genetically separable. Local polarity is initiated prior to global polarity and is robust to perturbation. PAR-3 is required for global polarization across the intestine but local polarity can arise in its absence, as small groups of cells eventually established polarized domains in PAR-3-depleted intestines in a HMR-1 (E-cadherin)-dependent manner. Despite the role of PAR-3 in localizing PKC-3 to the apical surface, we additionally found that PAR-3 and PKC-3/aPKC have distinct roles in the establishment and maintenance of local and global polarity. Taken together, our results indicate that different mechanisms are required for local and global polarity establishment in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. Pickett
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95112, USA
| | - Maria D. Sallee
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lauren Cote
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | | | - Joo Lee
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kang Shen
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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10
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Functional Insights into Protein Kinase A (PKA) Signaling from C. elegans. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12111878. [PMID: 36431013 PMCID: PMC9692727 DOI: 10.3390/life12111878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinase A (PKA), which regulates a diverse set of biological functions downstream of cyclic AMP (cAMP), is a tetramer consisting of two catalytic subunits (PKA-C) and two regulatory subunits (PKA-R). When cAMP binds the PKA-R subunits, the PKA-C subunits are released and interact with downstream effectors. In Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), PKA-C and PKA-R are encoded by kin-1 and kin-2, respectively. This review focuses on the contributions of work in C. elegans to our understanding of the many roles of PKA, including contractility and oocyte maturation in the reproductive system, lipid metabolism, physiology, mitochondrial function and lifespan, and a wide variety of behaviors. C. elegans provides a powerful genetic platform for understanding how this kinase can regulate an astounding variety of physiological responses.
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11
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Sepers JJ, Verstappen NHM, Vo AA, Ragle JM, Ruijtenberg S, Ward JD, Boxem M. The mIAA7 degron improves auxin-mediated degradation in Caenorhabditiselegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:jkac222. [PMID: 36029236 PMCID: PMC9526053 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Auxin-inducible degradation is a powerful tool for the targeted degradation of proteins with spatiotemporal control. One limitation of the auxin-inducible degradation system is that not all proteins are degraded efficiently. Here, we demonstrate that an alternative degron sequence, termed mIAA7, improves the efficiency of degradation in Caenorhabditiselegans, as previously reported in human cells. We tested the depletion of a series of proteins with various subcellular localizations in different tissue types and found that the use of the mIAA7 degron resulted in faster depletion kinetics for 5 out of 6 proteins tested. The exception was the nuclear protein HIS-72, which was depleted with similar efficiency as with the conventional AID* degron sequence. The mIAA7 degron also increased the leaky degradation for 2 of the tested proteins. To overcome this problem, we combined the mIAA7 degron with the C. elegans AID2 system, which resulted in complete protein depletion without detectable leaky degradation. Finally, we show that the degradation of ERM-1, a highly stable protein that is challenging to deplete, could be improved further by using multiple mIAA7 degrons. Taken together, the mIAA7 degron further increases the power and applicability of the auxin-inducible degradation system. To facilitate the generation of mIAA7-tagged proteins using CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering, we generated a toolkit of plasmids for the generation of dsDNA repair templates by PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorian J Sepers
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Noud H M Verstappen
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - An A Vo
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - James Matthew Ragle
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Suzan Ruijtenberg
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jordan D Ward
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Mike Boxem
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
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12
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Sepers JJ, Ramalho JJ, Kroll JR, Schmidt R, Boxem M. ERM-1 Phosphorylation and NRFL-1 Redundantly Control Lumen Formation in the C. elegans Intestine. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:769862. [PMID: 35198555 PMCID: PMC8860247 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.769862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reorganization of the plasma membrane and underlying actin cytoskeleton into specialized domains is essential for the functioning of most polarized cells in animals. Proteins of the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) and Na+/H+ exchanger 3 regulating factor (NHERF) family are conserved regulators of cortical specialization. ERM proteins function as membrane-actin linkers and as molecular scaffolds that organize the distribution of proteins at the membrane. NHERF proteins are PDZ-domain containing adapters that can bind to ERM proteins and extend their scaffolding capability. Here, we investigate how ERM and NHERF proteins function in regulating intestinal lumen formation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans has single ERM and NHERF family proteins, termed ERM-1 and NRFL-1, and ERM-1 was previously shown to be critical for intestinal lumen formation. Using CRISPR/Cas9-generated nrfl-1 alleles we demonstrate that NRFL-1 localizes at the intestinal microvilli, and that this localization is depended on an interaction with ERM-1. However, nrfl-1 loss of function mutants are viable and do not show defects in intestinal development. Interestingly, combining nrfl-1 loss with erm-1 mutants that either block or mimic phosphorylation of a regulatory C-terminal threonine causes severe defects in intestinal lumen formation. These defects are not observed in the phosphorylation mutants alone, and resemble the effects of strong erm-1 loss of function. The loss of NRFL-1 did not affect the localization or activity of ERM-1. Together, these data indicate that ERM-1 and NRFL-1 function together in intestinal lumen formation in C. elegans. We postulate that the functioning of ERM-1 in this tissue involves actin-binding activities that are regulated by the C-terminal threonine residue and the organization of apical domain composition through NRFL-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorian J Sepers
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - João J Ramalho
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Jason R Kroll
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ruben Schmidt
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Mike Boxem
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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13
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A biophysical perspective of the regulatory mechanisms of ezrin/radixin/moesin proteins. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:199-208. [PMID: 35340609 PMCID: PMC8921360 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-021-00928-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many signal transductions resulting from ligand-receptor interactions occur at the cell surface. These signaling pathways play essential roles in cell polarization, membrane morphogenesis, and the modulation of membrane tension at the cell surface. However, due to the large number of membrane-binding proteins, including actin-membrane linkers, and transmembrane proteins present at the cell surface, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation at the cell surface are yet unclear. Here, we describe the molecular functions of one of the key players at the cell surface, ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins from a biophysical point of view. We focus our discussion on biophysical properties of ERM proteins revealed by using biophysical tools in live cells and in vitro reconstitution systems. We first describe the structural properties of ERM proteins and then discuss the interactions of ERM proteins with PI(4,5)P2 and the actin cytoskeleton. These properties of ERM proteins revealed by using biophysical approaches have led to a better understanding of their physiological functions in cells and tissues. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12551-021-00928-0.
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14
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Sobral AF, Chan FY, Norman MJ, Osório DS, Dias AB, Ferreira V, Barbosa DJ, Cheerambathur D, Gassmann R, Belmonte JM, Carvalho AX. Plastin and spectrin cooperate to stabilize the actomyosin cortex during cytokinesis. Curr Biol 2021; 31:5415-5428.e10. [PMID: 34666005 PMCID: PMC8699742 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.09.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cytokinesis, the process that partitions the mother cell into two daughter cells, requires the assembly and constriction of an equatorial actomyosin network. Different types of non-motor F-actin crosslinkers localize to the network, but their functional contribution remains poorly understood. Here, we describe a synergy between the small rigid crosslinker plastin and the large flexible crosslinker spectrin in the C. elegans one-cell embryo. In contrast to single inhibitions, co-inhibition of plastin and the βH-spectrin (SMA-1) results in cytokinesis failure due to progressive disorganization and eventual collapse of the equatorial actomyosin network. Cortical localization dynamics of non-muscle myosin II in co-inhibited embryos mimic those observed after drug-induced F-actin depolymerization, suggesting that the combined action of plastin and spectrin stabilizes F-actin in the contractile ring. An in silico model predicts that spectrin is more efficient than plastin at stabilizing the ring and that ring formation is relatively insensitive to βH-spectrin length, which is confirmed in vivo with a sma-1 mutant that lacks 11 of its 29 spectrin repeats. Our findings provide the first evidence that spectrin contributes to cytokinesis and highlight the importance of crosslinker interplay for actomyosin network integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Filipa Sobral
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fung-Yi Chan
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Michael J Norman
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Quantitative and Computational Developmental Biology Cluster, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Daniel S Osório
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Beatriz Dias
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Ferreira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniel J Barbosa
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Dhanya Cheerambathur
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Reto Gassmann
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Julio Monti Belmonte
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Quantitative and Computational Developmental Biology Cluster, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Ana Xavier Carvalho
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
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15
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Bidaud-Meynard A, Demouchy F, Nicolle O, Pacquelet A, Suman SK, Plancke CN, Robin FB, Michaux G. High-resolution dynamic mapping of the C. elegans intestinal brush border. Development 2021; 148:dev200029. [PMID: 34704594 PMCID: PMC10659032 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The intestinal brush border is made of an array of microvilli that increases the membrane surface area for nutrient processing, absorption and host defense. Studies on mammalian cultured epithelial cells have uncovered some of the molecular players and physical constraints required to establish this apical specialized membrane. However, the building and maintenance of a brush border in vivo has not yet been investigated in detail. Here, we combined super-resolution imaging, transmission electron microscopy and genome editing in the developing nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to build a high-resolution and dynamic localization map of known and new brush border markers. Notably, we show that microvilli components are dynamically enriched at the apical membrane during microvilli outgrowth and maturation, but become highly stable once microvilli are built. This new toolbox will be instrumental for understanding the molecular processes of microvilli growth and maintenance in vivo, as well as the effect of genetic perturbations, notably in the context of disorders affecting brush border integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Bidaud-Meynard
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes) - UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Flora Demouchy
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes) - UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Ophélie Nicolle
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes) - UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Anne Pacquelet
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes) - UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Shashi Kumar Suman
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Biologie Paris Seine, CNRS UMR7622, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Inserm U1156, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Camille N Plancke
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Biologie Paris Seine, CNRS UMR7622, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Inserm U1156, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - François B Robin
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Biologie Paris Seine, CNRS UMR7622, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Inserm U1156, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Grégoire Michaux
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes) - UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France
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16
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Riga A, Cravo J, Schmidt R, Pires HR, Castiglioni VG, van den Heuvel S, Boxem M. Caenorhabditis elegans LET-413 Scribble is essential in the epidermis for growth, viability, and directional outgrowth of epithelial seam cells. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009856. [PMID: 34673778 PMCID: PMC8570498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The conserved adapter protein Scribble (Scrib) plays essential roles in a variety of cellular processes, including polarity establishment, proliferation, and directed cell migration. While the mechanisms through which Scrib promotes epithelial polarity are beginning to be unraveled, its roles in other cellular processes including cell migration remain enigmatic. In C. elegans, the Scrib ortholog LET-413 is essential for apical–basal polarization and junction formation in embryonic epithelia. However, whether LET-413 is required for postembryonic development or plays a role in migratory events is not known. Here, we use inducible protein degradation to investigate the functioning of LET-413 in larval epithelia. We find that LET-413 is essential in the epidermal epithelium for growth, viability, and junction maintenance. In addition, we identify a novel role for LET-413 in the polarized outgrowth of the epidermal seam cells. These stem cell-like epithelial cells extend anterior and posterior directed apical protrusions in each larval stage to reconnect to their neighbors. We show that the role of LET-413 in seam cell outgrowth is likely mediated largely by the junctional component DLG-1 discs large, which we demonstrate is also essential for directed outgrowth of the seam cells. Our data uncover multiple essential functions for LET-413 in larval development and show that the polarized outgrowth of the epithelial seam cells is controlled by LET-413 Scribble and DLG-1 Discs large. Most cells in multicellular organisms are organized along a directional axis of cell polarity. One protein that is important for this polarized organization is the conserved polarity regulator Scribble. This protein has several functions, including forming the basolateral domains of cells, promoting the formation of cell junctions, and promoting cell migration. How Scribble performs these functions is not fully understood. In this paper we study the role of Scribble during larval development of the small nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using an inducible protein degradation system. We show that Scribble, called LET-413 in C. elegans, is essential in the epidermal epithelium for animal development, as depletion of LET-413 in only this tissue blocks growth. We also demonstrate that LET-413 is required for the polarized outgrowth of an epithelial cell type called the seam cells, a process resembling cell migration. Finally, we show that one major function of LET-413 in seam cell outgrowth is the localization of the junctional component Discs large (DLG-1), which we demonstrate is also essential for this process. Our data thus uncover multiple essential functions for LET-413 in larval development and provide new insights into how the directional outgrowth of epithelial seam cells is controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Riga
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Janine Cravo
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ruben Schmidt
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Helena R. Pires
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Victoria G. Castiglioni
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sander van den Heuvel
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mike Boxem
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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17
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Remmelzwaal S, Geisler F, Stucchi R, van der Horst S, Pasolli M, Kroll JR, Jarosinska OD, Akhmanova A, Richardson CA, Altelaar M, Leube RE, Ramalho JJ, Boxem M. BBLN-1 is essential for intermediate filament organization and apical membrane morphology. Curr Biol 2021; 31:2334-2346.e9. [PMID: 33857431 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial tubes are essential components of metazoan organ systems that control the flow of fluids and the exchange of materials between body compartments and the outside environment. The size and shape of the central lumen confer important characteristics to tubular organs and need to be carefully controlled. Here, we identify the small coiled-coil protein BBLN-1 as a regulator of lumen morphology in the C. elegans intestine. Loss of BBLN-1 causes the formation of bubble-shaped invaginations of the apical membrane into the cytoplasm of intestinal cells and abnormal aggregation of the subapical intermediate filament (IF) network. BBLN-1 interacts with IF proteins and localizes to the IF network in an IF-dependent manner. The appearance of invaginations is a result of the abnormal IF aggregation, indicating a direct role for the IF network in maintaining lumen homeostasis. Finally, we identify bublin (BBLN) as the mammalian ortholog of BBLN-1. When expressed in the C. elegans intestine, BBLN recapitulates the localization pattern of BBLN-1 and can compensate for the loss of BBLN-1 in early larvae. In mouse intestinal organoids, BBLN localizes subapically, together with the IF protein keratin 8. Our results therefore may have implications for understanding the role of IFs in regulating epithelial tube morphology in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Remmelzwaal
- Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Florian Geisler
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Riccardo Stucchi
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands; Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Suzanne van der Horst
- Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Milena Pasolli
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jason R Kroll
- Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Olga D Jarosinska
- Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Anna Akhmanova
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Maarten Altelaar
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Rudolf E Leube
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - João J Ramalho
- Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Mike Boxem
- Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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18
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Castiglioni VG, Pires HR, Rosas Bertolini R, Riga A, Kerver J, Boxem M. Epidermal PAR-6 and PKC-3 are essential for larval development of C. elegans and organize non-centrosomal microtubules. eLife 2020; 9:e62067. [PMID: 33300872 PMCID: PMC7755398 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The cortical polarity regulators PAR-6, PKC-3, and PAR-3 are essential for the polarization of a broad variety of cell types in multicellular animals. In C. elegans, the roles of the PAR proteins in embryonic development have been extensively studied, yet little is known about their functions during larval development. Using inducible protein degradation, we show that PAR-6 and PKC-3, but not PAR-3, are essential for postembryonic development. PAR-6 and PKC-3 are required in the epidermal epithelium for animal growth, molting, and the proper pattern of seam-cell divisions. Finally, we uncovered a novel role for PAR-6 in organizing non-centrosomal microtubule arrays in the epidermis. PAR-6 was required for the localization of the microtubule organizer NOCA-1/Ninein, and defects in a noca-1 mutant are highly similar to those caused by epidermal PAR-6 depletion. As NOCA-1 physically interacts with PAR-6, we propose that PAR-6 promotes non-centrosomal microtubule organization through localization of NOCA-1/Ninein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria G Castiglioni
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Helena R Pires
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Rodrigo Rosas Bertolini
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Amalia Riga
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Jana Kerver
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Mike Boxem
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
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19
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Buechner M, Yang Z, Al-Hashimi H. A Series of Tubes: The C. elegans Excretory Canal Cell as a Model for Tubule Development. J Dev Biol 2020; 8:jdb8030017. [PMID: 32906663 PMCID: PMC7557474 DOI: 10.3390/jdb8030017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation and regulation of properly sized epithelial tubes is essential for multicellular life. The excretory canal cell of C. elegans provides a powerful model for investigating the integration of the cytoskeleton, intracellular transport, and organismal physiology to regulate the developmental processes of tube extension, lumen formation, and lumen diameter regulation in a narrow single cell. Multiple studies have provided new understanding of actin and intermediate filament cytoskeletal elements, vesicle transport, and the role of vacuolar ATPase in determining tube size. Most of the genes discovered have clear homologues in humans, with implications for understanding these processes in mammalian tissues such as Schwann cells, renal tubules, and brain vasculature. The results of several new genetic screens are described that provide a host of new targets for future studies in this informative structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Buechner
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA;
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