title: Links between signal transduction, transcription and adhesion in epithelial bud development.
abstract: The morphogenesis of organs as diverse as lungs, teeth and hair follicles is initiated by a downgrowth from a layer of epithelial stem cells. During follicular morphogenesis, stem cells form this bud structure by changing their polarity and cell-cell contacts. Here we show that this process is achieved through simultaneous receipt of two external signals: a Wnt protein to stabilize beta-catenin, and a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibitor to produce Lef1. Beta-catenin then binds to, and activates, Lef1 transcription complexes that appear to act uncharacteristically by downregulating the gene encoding E-cadherin, an important component of polarity and intercellular adhesion. When either signal is missing, functional Lef1 complexes are not made, and E-cadherin downregulation and follicle morphogenesis are impaired. In Drosophila, E-cadherin can influence the plane of cell division and cytoskeletal dynamics. Consistent with this notion, we show that forced elevation of E-cadherin levels block invagination and follicle production. Our findings reveal an intricate molecular programme that links two extracellular signalling pathways to the formation of a nuclear transcription factor that acts on target genes to remodel cellular junctions and permit follicle formation.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jamora
authors.forename: Ramanuj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DasGupta
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kocieniewski
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009024:Morphogenesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D000099176:Noggin Protein
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D015820:Cadherins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D000099176:Noggin Protein; C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; C497574:Lef1 protein, mouse