title: Mechanosensitive EPLIN-dependent remodeling of adherens junctions regulates epithelial reshaping.
abstract: The zonula adherens (ZA), a type of adherens junction (AJ), plays a major role in epithelial cell-cell adhesions. It remains unknown how the ZA is remodeled during epithelial reorganization. Here we found that the ZA was converted to another type of AJ with punctate morphology (pAJ) at the margins of epithelial colonies. The F-actin-stabilizing protein EPLIN (epithelial protein lost in neoplasm), which functions to maintain the ZA via its association with αE-catenin, was lost in the pAJs. Consistently, a fusion of αE-catenin and EPLIN contributed to the formation of ZA but not pAJs. We show that junctional tension was important for retaining EPLIN at AJs, and another force derived from actin fibers laterally attached to the pAJs inhibited EPLIN-AJ association. Vinculin was required for general AJ formation, and it cooperated with EPLIN to maintain the ZA. These findings suggest that epithelial cells remodel their junctional architecture by responding to mechanical forces, and the αE-catenin-bound EPLIN acts as a mechanosensitive regulator for this process.
authors.affiliation: RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishiuchi
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeichi
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048430:Cell Shape; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D034622:RNA Interference; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D016596:Vinculin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; C495272:Ctnna1 protein, mouse; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C485741:D15Ertd366e protein, mouse; C403263:LIMA1 protein, human; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D016596:Vinculin