T-plastin is essential for basement membrane assembly and epidermal morphogenesis
Eyal Dor-On1, Shaul Raviv1, Yonatan Cohen1
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
Science Signaling
|June 1, 2017
Summary
The actin-bundling protein T-plastin (Pls3) is crucial for basement membrane assembly and skin development. Its depletion disrupts epidermal architecture by affecting the actomyosin cytoskeleton and myosin II activity.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Epithelial architecture relies on cell-basement membrane interactions.
- Integrins are known regulators of basement membrane assembly, but the role of the actomyosin cytoskeleton is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the actin-bundling protein T-plastin (Pls3) in basement membrane assembly and epidermal morphogenesis.
- To elucidate the connection between the actomyosin cytoskeleton and basement membrane formation.
Main Methods:
- In utero gene depletion of Pls3 in mouse embryos.
- Analysis of epidermal basement membrane and polarity.
- Assessment of cell adhesion and differentiation.
- Investigation of Pls3 localization and its effect on myosin II activity.
- Inhibition of myosin II motor activity.
Main Results:
- Pls3 depletion caused significant basement membrane and polarity defects in the epidermis.
- These polarity defects were secondary to basement membrane disruption.
- The basement membrane was highly sensitive to actin cytoskeleton perturbations.
- Pls3 is essential for myosin II localization and activation at the cell cortex.
- Inhibition of myosin II disrupted basement membrane organization.
Conclusions:
- T-plastin (Pls3) is a key regulator of basement membrane assembly and epidermal morphogenesis.
- Pls3 controls basement membrane integrity through the regulation of cortical actomyosin and myosin II activity.
- This study highlights the importance of the actomyosin cytoskeleton in skin development.
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