Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Isolation and Identification of Limbal Niche Cells
10:11

Isolation and Identification of Limbal Niche Cells

Published on: October 27, 2023

Keratinocyte migration in the developing eyelid requires LIMK2

Dennis S Rice1, Gwenn M Hansen, Feng Liu

  • 1Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, The Woodlands, TX, USA. drice@lexpharma.com

Plos One
|October 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Limb kinase 2 (LIMK2) is essential for epithelial cell migration during eyelid development. Its absence prevents actin nucleation, leading to an "eyes open at birth" phenotype in mice.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • LIMK2 is a key effector of Rho GTPase signaling, regulating cytoskeletal organization.
  • LIMK2 is activated by Rho-associated coiled-coil kinases (ROCKs) and targets actin-binding proteins.
  • Previous studies suggested LIMK2's role in cell morphology and motility, but in vivo evidence was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo function of LIMK2 in epithelial sheet migration during eyelid development.
  • To determine the consequences of abolished LIMK2 activity on keratinocyte behavior and actin dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Creation of a LIMK2 knockout mouse model to abolish its biochemical activity.
  • Analysis of eyelid development, keratinocyte differentiation, and actin nucleation in knockout mice.
  • Assessment of phosphorylated cofilin levels as an indicator of LIMK2 activity.

Main Results:

  • LIMK2 knockout mice exhibited profound inhibition of epithelial sheet migration during eyelid development.
  • Keratinocytes in LIMK2-deficient mice failed to nucleate filamentous actin and remained immobile.
  • Reduced levels of phosphorylated cofilin were observed in the absence of LIMK2.

Conclusions:

  • LIMK2 activity is indispensable for keratinocyte migration in the developing eyelid.
  • LIMK2 regulates eyelid closure by controlling actin dynamics through cofilin phosphorylation.
  • This study provides the first in vivo evidence for LIMK2's critical role in epithelial morphogenesis.

More Related Videos

A Simple Mechanical Procedure to Create Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in Mouse04:55

A Simple Mechanical Procedure to Create Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in Mouse

Published on: November 17, 2016

Isolation of Intact Eyeball to Obtain Integral Ocular Surface Tissue for Histological Examination and Immunohistochemistry05:15

Isolation of Intact Eyeball to Obtain Integral Ocular Surface Tissue for Histological Examination and Immunohistochemistry

Published on: October 20, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...
Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
Cell Migration01:19

Cell Migration

Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...