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Differential adhesion and actomyosin cable collaborate to drive Echinoid-mediated cell sorting
Li-Hsun Chang1, Peilong Chen, Mong-Ting Lien
1Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30034, Republic of China.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|July 29, 2011
Summary
Differential expression of Echinoid (Ed) protein triggers cell sorting in Drosophila. Actomyosin cable assembly at the interface is crucial for smooth tissue borders during this process.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cell sorting is essential for tissue formation, involving the segregation of cell populations.
- Echinoid (Ed), a nectin ortholog, is an adherens junction protein in Drosophila implicated in cell sorting.
- The precise triggers and mechanisms underlying differential adhesion-driven cell sorting remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sequence of events and molecular factors initiating cell sorting mediated by the Echinoid (Ed) protein.
- To determine the role of differential Ed expression and actomyosin cable assembly in achieving smooth tissue borders during cell sorting.
- To elucidate the interplay between differential adhesion and actomyosin contractility in regulating tissue morphogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism.
- Genetically manipulated Echinoid (Ed) expression levels in specific cell populations.
- Observed and analyzed cell behaviors, tissue morphology, and actomyosin cable formation at clonal interfaces using microscopy.
- Investigated rescue mechanisms for Ed-mediated cell sorting through homophilic and heterophilic interactions.
Main Results:
- Differential expression of Echinoid (Ed) was found to trigger actomyosin cable assembly, driving cell sorting.
- Ed-mediated cell sorting could be rescued by recruiting Ed to the interface, even with persistent differential expression.
- Absence of actomyosin cable resulted in limited cell segregation with jagged tissue borders, indicating imperfect sorting.
- Differential adhesion alone was insufficient for smooth border formation, highlighting the role of actomyosin contractility.
Conclusions:
- Cell sorting in Drosophila is a multi-step process initiated by differential Ed expression, leading to actomyosin cable assembly.
- Actomyosin cable formation is critical for smoothing the tissue border during Ed-mediated cell sorting.
- Both differential adhesion and actomyosin contractility are essential for proper cell sorting and tissue organization.
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