title: Cadherin-dependent filopodia control preimplantation embryo compaction.
abstract: Compaction of the preimplantation embryo is the earliest morphogenetic process essential for mammalian development, yet it remains unclear how round cells elongate to form a compacted embryo. Here, using live mouse embryo imaging, we demonstrate that cells extend long E-cadherin-dependent filopodia on to neighbouring cells, which control the cell shape changes necessary for compaction. We found that filopodia extension is tightly coordinated with cell elongation, whereas retraction occurs before cells become round again before dividing. Laser-based ablations revealed that filopodia are required to maintain elongated cell shapes. Moreover, molecular disruption of the filopodia components E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin, F-actin and myosin-X prevents cells from elongating and compacting the embryo. Finally, we show that early filopodia formation triggered by overexpressing myosin-X is sufficient to induce premature compaction. Our findings establish a role for filopodia during preimplantation embryonic development and provide an in vivo context to investigate the biological functions of filopodia in mammals.
authors.affiliation: 1] European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Level 1 Building 75, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia [2].
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.identifier: 0000000348711621
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fierro-González
authors.forename: Melanie D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Plachta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology*; D064200:Cdh1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048430:Cell Shape; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009024:Morphogenesis; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064200:Cdh1 Proteins; C577585:Fzr1 protein, mouse; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin