Catenins Steer Cell Migration via Stabilization of Front-Rear Polarity

Cell migration plays a pivotal role in morphogenetic and pathogenetic processes. To achieve directional migration, cells must establish a front-to-rear axis of polarity. Here we show that components of the cadherin-catenin complex function to stabilize this front-rear polarity. Neural crest and glioblastoma cells undergo directional migration in vivo or in vitro. During this process, αE-catenin accumulated at lamellipodial membranes and then moved toward the rear with the support of a tyrosine-phosphorylated β-catenin. This relocating αE-catenin bound to p115RhoGEF, leading to gathering of active RhoA in front of the nucleus where myosin-IIB arcs assemble. When catenins or p115RhoGEF were removed, cells lost the polarized myosin-IIB assembly, as well as the capability for directional movement. These results suggest that, apart from its well-known function in cell adhesion, the β-catenin/αE-catenin complex regulates directional cell migration by restricting active RhoA to perinuclear regions and controlling myosin-IIB dynamics at these sites.