Apico-basal elongation requires a drebrin-E-EB3 complex in columnar human epithelial cells
Elsa Bazellières1, Dominique Massey-Harroche, Magali Barthélémy-Requin
1CNRS, UMR 6216, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille Luminy (IBDML), case 907, 13288 Marseille, CEDEX 09, France.
Journal of Cell Science
|January 26, 2012
Summary
Drebrin E, an actin-binding protein, is crucial for epithelial cell elongation by stabilizing the actin network. It forms a complex with EB3, myosin IIB, and βII spectrin, connecting actin and microtubule networks during cell morphogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Columnar epithelial cells exhibit an elongated shape, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood.
- The apical domain formation and cell elongation are critical processes in epithelial tissue development and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of drebrin E in the morphological changes of columnar epithelial cells.
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms governing cell elongation and apical domain formation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized human intestinal Caco2 cells for in vitro and in vivo studies.
- Employed drebrin E and EB3 depletion techniques.
- Analyzed F-actin, myosin-IIB, βII-spectrin, and EB3 distribution using immunofluorescence.
- Investigated protein complex formation via co-immunoprecipitation.
Main Results:
- Drebrin E levels increase in the terminal web during apical domain formation, promoting cell compaction and elongation.
- Drebrin E depletion disrupts the subapical F-actin-myosin-IIB-βII-spectrin network and EB3 apical accumulation.
- EB3 depletion mimics drebrin E depletion's elongation phenotype without affecting cell compaction or F-actin distribution.
- EB3, myosin IIB, and βII spectrin form a drebrin-E-dependent complex.
Conclusions:
- Drebrin E is essential for epithelial cell elongation and terminal web stabilization.
- A drebrin-E-dependent complex involving EB3, myosin IIB, and βII spectrin connects apical actin and microtubule networks during epithelial morphogenesis.
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