Genetic studies define MAGUK proteins as regulators of epithelial cell polarity.
Polarized epithelial cells play critical roles during early embryonic development and organogenesis. Multi-domain scaffolding proteins belonging to the membrane associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family are commonly found at the plasma membrane of polarized epithelial cells. Genetic studies in Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans have revealed that MAGUK proteins regulate various aspects of the polarized epithelial phenotype, including cell junction assembly, targeting of proteins to the plasma membrane and the organisation of polarized signalling complexes. This review will focus on the genetic studies that have contributed to our understanding of the MAGUK family members, Dlg and Lin-2/CASK, in controlling these processes. In addition, our recent genetic analysis of mouse Dlg, in combination with genetic and biochemical studies of Lin-2/CASK by others suggests a model placing Dlg and Lin-2/CASK within the same developmental pathway.
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. georgina.caruana@med.monash.edu.au
Georgina
G
Caruana
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D051528:Guanylate Kinases; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009703:Nucleoside-Phosphate Kinase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018909:src Homology Domains
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; C097978:Lin-2 protein, C elegans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C070350:dlg1 protein, Drosophila; C106868:CASK kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D009703:Nucleoside-Phosphate Kinase; D051528:Guanylate Kinases