title: Calponin 2 acts as an effector of noncanonical Wnt-mediated cell polarization during neural crest cell migration.
abstract: Neural crest cells (NCCs) migrate throughout the embryo to differentiate into cell types of all germ layers. Initial directed NCC emigration relies on planar cell polarity (PCP), which through the activity of the small GTPases RhoA and Rac governs the actin-driven formation of polarized cell protrusions. We found that the actin binding protein calponin 2 (Cnn2) was expressed in protrusions at the leading edge of migratory NCCs in chicks and frogs. Cnn2 knockdown resulted in NCC migration defects in frogs and chicks and randomized outgrowth of cell protrusions in NCC explants. Morphant cells showed central stress fibers at the expense of the peripheral actin network. Cnn2 acted downstream of Wnt/PCP, as migration defects induced by dominant-negative Wnt11 or inhibition of RhoA function were rescued by Cnn2 knockdown. These results suggest that Cnn2 modulates actin dynamics during NCC migration as an effector of noncanonical Wnt/PCP signaling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Bärbel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.forename: Cathrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hagenlocher
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmalholz
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schweickert
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Dalit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sela-Donenfeld
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blum
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D014981:Xenopus; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D000096985:Calponins
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; D000096985:Calponins