title: Cell division and cadherin-mediated adhesion regulate lens epithelial cell movement in zebrafish.
abstract: In vertebrates, lens epithelial cells cover the anterior half of the lens fiber core. During development, lens epithelial cells proliferate, move posteriorly and differentiate into lens fiber cells after passing through the equator. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying lens epithelial cell movement, we conducted time-lapse imaging of zebrafish lens epithelium. Lens epithelial cells do not intermingle but maintain their relative positions during development. Cell division induces epithelial rearrangement, which subsequently promotes cell movement towards the equator. These data suggest that cell division is the major driving force for cell movement. In zebrafish, E-cadherin is expressed in lens epithelium, whereas N-cadherin is required for lens fiber growth. E-cadherin reduced lens epithelial cell movement, whereas N-cadherin enhanced it. Laser ablation experiments revealed that lens epithelium is governed by pulling tension, which is modulated by these cadherins. Thus, cell division and cadherin-mediated adhesion regulate lens epithelial cell movement via modulation of epithelial tension.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6401-5605
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors.forename: Yi-Jyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3418-3146
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors.forename: Hsieh-Fu
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8652-4643
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors.forename: Akane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan masai@oist.jp.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6626-6595
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002465:Cell Movement; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: Cadherin; Cell movement; Epithelium; Lens; Tension; Zebrafish