title: Novel transport function of adherens junction revealed by live imaging in Drosophila.
abstract: Adherens junctions are known for their role in mediating cell-cell adhesion. DE-cadherin and Echinoid are the principle adhesion molecules of adherens junctions in Drosophila epithelia. Here, using live imaging to trace the movement of endocytosed Echinoid vesicles in the epithelial cells of Drosophila embryos, we demonstrate that Echinoid vesicles co-localize and move with Rab5-or Rab11-positive endosomes. Surprisingly, these Echinoid-containing endosomes undergo directional cell-to-cell movement, through adherens junctions. Consistent with this, cell-to-cell movement of Echinoid vesicles requires the presence of DE-cadherin at adherens junctions. Live imaging further revealed that Echinoid vesicles move along adherens junction-associated microtubules into adjacent cells, a process requiring a kinesin motor. Importantly, DE-cadherin- and EGFR-containing vesicles also exhibit intercellular movement. Together, our results unveil a transport function of adherens junctions. Furthermore, this adherens junctions-based intercellular transport provides a platform for the exchange of junctional proteins and signaling receptors between neighboring cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yu-Chiao
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wen-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Lien-Chieh
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chiao-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yu-Huei
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Pei-Yi
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Bi-Chang
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA 98416, USA.
authors.forename: Wayne L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Rickoll
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: lshsu@life.nthu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jui-Chou
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: Adherens junctions; DE-Cadherin; Echinoid; Endosome; Intercellular transport