Nuclear movement regulated by Cdc42, MRCK, myosin, and actin flow establishes MTOC polarization in migrating cells.
The microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) is reoriented between the nucleus and the leading edge in many migrating cells and contributes to directional migration. Models suggest that the MTOC is moved to its position during reorientation. By direct imaging of wound-edge fibroblasts after triggering MTOC reorientation with soluble factors, we found instead that the nucleus moved away from the leading edge to reorient the MTOC, while the MTOC remained stationary. Rearward nuclear movement was coupled with actin retrograde flow and was regulated by a pathway involving Cdc42, MRCK, myosin, and actin. Nuclear movement was unaffected by the inhibition of dynein, Par6, or PKCzeta, yet these components were essential for MTOC reorientation, as they maintained the MTOC at the cell centroid. These results show that nuclear repositioning is an initial polarizing event in migrating cells and that the positions of the nucleus and the MTOC are established by separate regulatory pathways.
Gomes
Edgar R
ER
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Jani
Shantanu
S
Gundersen
Gregg G
GG
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology; D004398:Dyneins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D022101:Microtubule-Organizing Center / Q000502:physiology*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D018994:Myosin Light Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D024462:Myosin Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D065636:Myotonin-Protein Kinase; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D000099221:Protein Kinase C zeta
D000199:Actins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004398:Dyneins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D018994:Myosin Light Chains; D024462:Myosin Type II; D065636:Myotonin-Protein Kinase; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein; D000099221:Protein Kinase C zeta; C585516:DMPK protein, mouse