Mitotic cells form actin-based bridges with adjacent cells to provide intercellular communication during rounding.
In order to achieve accurate chromosome segregation, eukaryotic cells undergo a dramatic change in morphology to obtain a spherical shape during mitosis. Interphase cells communicate directly with each other by exchanging ions and small molecules via gap junctions, which have important roles in controlling cell growth and differentiation. As cells round up during mitosis, the gap junctional communication between mitotic cells and adjacent interphase cells ceases. Whether mitotic cells use alternative mechanisms for mediating direct cell-cell communication during rounding is currently unknown. Here, we have studied the mechanisms involved in the remodeling of gap junctions during mitosis. We further demonstrate that mitotic cells are able to form actin-based plasma membrane bridges with adjacent cells during rounding. These structures, termed "mitotic nanotubes," were found to be involved in mediating the transport of cytoplasm, including Rab11-positive vesicles, between mitotic cells and adjacent cells. Moreover, a subpool of the gap-junction channel protein connexin43 localized in these intercellular bridges during mitosis. Collectively, the data provide new insights into the mechanisms involved in the remodeling of gap junctions during mitosis and identify actin-based plasma membrane bridges as a novel means of communication between mitotic cells and adjacent cells during rounding.
a Department of Molecular Oncology , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|b Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|c Institute for Biosciences, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|d K.G. Jebsen Colorectal Cancer Research Center, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
Tone A
TA
Fykerud
a Department of Molecular Oncology , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|b Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|c Institute for Biosciences, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|d K.G. Jebsen Colorectal Cancer Research Center, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
Lars M
LM
Knudsen
a Department of Molecular Oncology , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|b Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|c Institute for Biosciences, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|d K.G. Jebsen Colorectal Cancer Research Center, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
Max Z
MZ
Totland
b Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|e Department of Molecular Cell Biology , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|f Department of Core Facilities , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
Vigdis
V
Sørensen
a Department of Molecular Oncology , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|b Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|c Institute for Biosciences, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
Shiva
S
Dahal-Koirala
a Department of Molecular Oncology , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|b Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|c Institute for Biosciences, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|d K.G. Jebsen Colorectal Cancer Research Center, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
Ragnhild A
RA
Lothe
b Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|c Institute for Biosciences, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|e Department of Molecular Cell Biology , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|f Department of Core Facilities , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
Andreas
A
Brech
a Department of Molecular Oncology , Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|b Centre for Cancer Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|d K.G. Jebsen Colorectal Cancer Research Center, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
Edward
E
Leithe
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D048430:Cell Shape; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis; D008954:Models, Biological; D043942:Nanotubes; D051381:Rats; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000099149:Ezrin; D000099193:rab11 GTP-Binding Proteins
D000199:Actins; D018031:Connexin 43; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins; D000099149:Ezrin; D000099193:rab11 GTP-Binding Proteins; C471641:SMURF2 protein, human
actin; cell junctions; connexin; gap junction; mitosis; tunneling nanotubes