title: Grhl3 and Lmo4 play coordinate roles in epidermal migration.
abstract: In addition to its role in formation of the epidermal barrier, the mammalian transcription factor Grainy head-like 3 (Grhl3) is also essential for neural tube closure and wound repair, processes that are dependent in part on epidermal migration. Here, we demonstrate that the LIM-only domain protein, LMO4 serves as a functional partner of GRHL3 in its established roles, and define a new cooperative role for these factors in another developmental epidermal migration event, eyelid fusion. GRHL3 and LMO4 interact biochemically and genetically, with mutant mice exhibiting fully penetrant exencephaly, thoraco-lumbo-sacral spina bifida, defective skin barrier formation, and a co-incident eyes-open-at-birth (EOB) phenotype, which is not observed in the original individual null lines. The two genes are co-expressed in the surface ectoderm of the migrating eyelid root, and electron microscopy of Grhl3/Lmo4-null eyes reveals a failure in epithelial extension and a lack of peridermal clump formation at the eyelid margins. Accumulation of actin fibers is also absent in the circumference of these eyelids, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation is lost in the epidermis and eyelids of Grhl3(-/-)/Lmo4(-/-) embryos. Keratinocytes from mutant mice fail to "heal" in in vitro scratch assays, consistent with a general epidermal migratory defect that is dependent on ERK activation and actin cable formation.
authors.affiliation: Rotary Bone Marrow Research Laboratories, Melbourne Health Research Directorate, c/o Royal Melbourne Hospital Post Office, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia.
authors.forename: Nikki R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Hislop
authors.forename: Jacinta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caddy
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: Alana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auden
authors.forename: Sumitha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vasudevan
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Geoffrey J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lindeman
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Visvader
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jane
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005143:Eyelids / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C499942:Grhl3 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; C491976:Lmo4 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases