title: PATJ regulates directional migration of mammalian epithelial cells.
abstract: Directional migration is important in wound healing by epithelial cells. Recent studies have shown that polarity proteins such as mammalian Partitioning-defective 6 (Par6), atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) and mammalian Discs large 1 (Dlg1) are crucial not only for epithelial apico-basal polarity, but also for directional movement. Here, we show that the protein associated with Lin seven 1 (PALS1)-associated tight junction protein (PATJ), another evolutionarily conserved polarity protein, is also required for directional migration by using a wound-induced migration assay. In addition, we found that aPKC and Par3 localize to the leading edge during migration of epithelia and that PATJ regulates their localization. Furthermore, our results show that microtubule-organizing centre orientation is disrupted in PATJ RNA interference (RNAi) MDCKII (Madin-Darby canine kidney II) cells during migration. Together, our data indicate that PATJ controls directional migration by regulating the localization of aPKC and Par3 to the leading edge. The migration defect in PATJ RNAi cells seems to be due to the disorganization of the microtubule network induced by mislocalization of polarity proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA.
authors.forename: Kunyoo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Margolis
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D022101:Microtubule-Organizing Center / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C509689:PARD3 protein, human; C107903:PATJ protein, human; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins; C115015:PKC-3 protein; D011493:Protein Kinase C