Par-3 family proteins in cell polarity & adhesion

The Par-3/Baz family of polarity determinants is highly conserved across metazoans and includes C. elegans PAR-3, Drosophila Bazooka (Baz), human Par-3 (PARD3), and human Par-3-like (PARD3B). The C. elegans PAR-3 protein localises to the anterior pole of asymmetrically dividing zygotes with cell division cycle 42 (CDC42), atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), and PAR-6. The same C. elegans 'PAR complex' can also localise in an apical ring in epithelial cells. Drosophila Baz localises to the apical pole of asymmetrically dividing neuroblasts with Cdc42-aPKC-Par6, while in epithelial cells localises both in an apical ring with Cdc42-aPKC-Par6 and with E-cadherin at adherens junctions. These apical and junctional localisations have become separated in human PARD3, which is strictly apical in many epithelia, and human PARD3B, which is strictly junctional in many epithelia. We discuss the molecular basis for this fundamental difference in localisation, as well as the possible functions of Par-3/Baz family proteins as oligomeric clustering agents at the apical domain or at adherens junctions in epithelial stem cells. The evolution of Par-3 family proteins into distinct apical PARD3 and junctional PARD3B orthologs coincides with the emergence of stratified squamous epithelia in vertebrates, where PARD3B, but not PARD3, is strongly expressed in basal layer stem cells - which lack a typical apical domain. We speculate that PARD3B may contribute to clustering of E-cadherin, signalling from adherens junctions via Src family kinases or mitotic spindle orientation by adherens junctions in response to mechanical forces.