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Cell surface localisation and stability of uvomorulin during early mouse development
L Clayton1, S V Stinchcombe, M H Johnson
1Department of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, UK.
Zygote (Cambridge, England)
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Uvomorulin, a cell adhesion molecule, shifts from internal stores to the surface after fertilization in mouse embryos. Its distribution changes during compaction and decompaction, concentrating at cell contacts to mediate adhesion.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Uvomorulin is a key cell adhesion molecule involved in early embryonic development.
- Understanding its localization is crucial for comprehending embryonic morphogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the subcellular distribution of uvomorulin in mouse embryos during early development.
- To correlate uvomorulin localization with fertilization, compaction, and experimental manipulation.
Main Methods:
- Immunocytochemistry using conventional and confocal microscopy.
- Application of varied detergent extraction and fixation protocols.
- Analysis of uvomorulin distribution in oocytes, zygotes, and cleavage-stage embryos.
Main Results:
- Uvomorulin expression transitions from intracellular to detergent-resistant surface localization post-fertilization.
- During compaction, uvomorulin accumulates at blastomere contacts, with reduced surface expression.
- Experimental decompaction leads to decreased contact-associated uvomorulin and increased surface/cytoplasmic staining.
Conclusions:
- Uvomorulin localization dynamically changes in response to fertilization and cell-cell interactions.
- These dynamic changes are critical for regulating intercellular adhesion during embryonic development.
- The findings provide insights into the mechanisms governing cell adhesion rearrangements.