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Updated: May 27, 2026
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Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Snail1 controls epithelial-mesenchymal lineage commitment in focal adhesion kinase-null embryonic cells
Xiao-Yan Li1, Xiaoming Zhou, R Grant Rowe
1Division of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
The Journal of Cell Biology
|November 23, 2011
Summary
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) unexpectedly controls epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mouse embryonic cells. FAK regulates cell phenotype, preventing inappropriate epithelial commitment and enabling proper fibroblast development.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is crucial for various cellular functions, including remodeling, motility, and proliferation.
- Previous research suggested FAK primarily influences embryonic cell behavior through posttranscriptional signaling cascades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of FAK in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mouse embryonic cells.
- To identify the signaling pathways involved in FAK-mediated EMT control.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and analysis of FAK-null mouse embryonic cells at embryonic day 7.5.
- Assessment of cellular phenotypes, including epithelial and mesenchymal markers.
- Investigating signaling pathways such as extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) and Akt.
Main Results:
- FAK-null embryonic cells exhibited defects in focal adhesion remodeling, motility, and invasion, and were inappropriately committed to an epithelial phenotype.
- FAK rescue restored mesenchymal characteristics, generating mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
- FAK-mediated mesenchymal transition involved ERK and Akt signaling, leading to Snail1 gene expression and protein stabilization.
Conclusions:
- FAK is a novel regulator of Snail1-dependent EMT in embryonic cells.
- Defects in FAK-null cells arise from inappropriate commitment to an epithelial rather than fibroblastic phenotype.
- FAK plays a critical role in determining cell fate during embryonic development.
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