PATJ regulates directional migration of mammalian epithelial cells

Kunyoo Shin, Qian Wang, Ben Margolis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Directional migration is important in wound healing by epithelial cells. Recent studies have shown that polarity proteins such as mammalian Partitioning-defective 6 (Par6), atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) and mammalian Discs large 1 (Dlg1) are crucial not only for epithelial apico-basal polarity, but also for directional movement. Here, we show that the protein associated with Lin seven 1 (PALS1)-associated tight junction protein (PATJ), another evolutionarily conserved polarity protein, is also required for directional migration by using a wound-induced migration assay. In addition, we found that aPKC and Par3 localize to the leading edge during migration of epithelia and that PATJ regulates their localization. Furthermore, our results show that microtubule-organizing centre orientation is disrupted in PATJ RNA interference (RNAi) MDCKII (Madin-Darby canine kidney II) cells during migration. Together, our data indicate that PATJ controls directional migration by regulating the localization of aPKC and Par3 to the leading edge. The migration defect in PATJ RNAi cells seems to be due to the disorganization of the microtubule network induced by mislocalization of polarity proteins.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)158-164
Number of pages7
JournalEMBO Reports
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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