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Updated: Sep 11, 2025
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In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches to Determine Intestinal Epithelial Cell Permeability
Published on: October 19, 2018
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Spef1 is a microvillar component that limits apical actomyosin contractility and preserves intestinal barrier
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|August 12, 2025
Summary
Sperm Flagellar 1 (Spef1) in enterocytes prevents excessive actomyosin contractility, maintaining epithelial barrier integrity. Its depletion causes apical invaginations and compromises intestinal barrier function.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Epithelial biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Epithelial barrier integrity relies on cell-cell adhesion reinforced by actomyosin contractility.
- The precise regulation of actomyosin tension to maintain barrier function is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Sperm Flagellar 1 (Spef1) in regulating actomyosin contractility and epithelial barrier function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Caco-2 BBE cells for loss-of-function studies.
- Assessed epithelial barrier function and junctional component distribution.
- Monitored NM2A activity and apical surface morphology.
Main Results:
- Spef1 depletion led to apical domain invaginations at tricellular contacts.
- Loss of Spef1 caused redistribution of tricellular and tight junction components.
- Spef1 deficiency resulted in increased NM2A activity and compromised intestinal barrier function.
Conclusions:
- Spef1, a microvillar protein, prevents actomyosin hypercontractility in epithelial cells.
- Spef1 tunes apical actomyosin tension for proper junctional reinforcement and epithelial function maintenance.
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