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Dissection and Culture of Mouse Embryonic Kidney
Published on: May 17, 2017
Actin depolymerizing factors cofilin1 and destrin are required for ureteric bud branching morphogenesis
Satu Kuure1, Cristina Cebrian, Quentin Machingo
1Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America.
Plos Genetics
|November 10, 2010
Summary
Actin depolymerizing factors (ADFs), cofilin1 and destrin, are essential for kidney branching morphogenesis. Simultaneous loss of both ADFs in ureteric bud epithelium arrests kidney development, highlighting their overlapping functions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Actin depolymerizing factors (ADFs) regulate actin dynamics crucial for cell migration.
- The in vivo roles of ADFs in developmental processes like branching morphogenesis are not well understood.
- Ureteric bud (UB) branching during kidney development involves complex cellular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo functions of ADFs cofilin1 (Cfl1) and destrin (Dstn) in mouse kidney development.
- To elucidate the role of actin cytoskeletal dynamics in renal branching morphogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Studied mouse models with genetic deletions or inactivating mutations in Cfl1 and Dstn.
- Examined the effects of combined Cfl1 and Dstn loss on ureteric bud epithelial cells.
- Analyzed renal morphogenesis, epithelial organization, cell migration, and actin organization.
Main Results:
- Simultaneous loss of Cfl1 and Dstn in UB epithelium arrests branching morphogenesis.
- Absence of both ADFs leads to actin accumulation, disrupted epithelial organization, and impaired cell migration.
- Partial loss of function results in abnormalities like ureter duplication and renal hypoplasia.
Conclusions:
- Cofilin1 and destrin exhibit functional overlap and are essential for normal kidney development.
- ADF activity is critical for ureteric bud epithelial cell function during renal growth and branching.
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