Myosin-IXA regulates collective epithelial cell migration by targeting RhoGAP activity to cell-cell junctions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epithelial tissues undergo extensive collective movements during morphogenesis, repair, and renewal. Collective epithelial cell migration requires the intercellular coordination of cell-cell adhesions and the establishment of anterior-posterior polarity, while maintaining apical-basal polarity, but how this is achieved at the molecular level is not well understood.

Results

Using an RNA interference-based screen to identify Rho family GTPase regulators required for the collective migration of human bronchial epithelial cells, we identified myosin-IXA (gene name: Myo9a). Depletion of myosin-IXA, a RhoGAP and actin motor protein, in collectively migrating cells led to altered organization of the actin cytoskeleton and tension-dependent disruption of cell-cell adhesio

SUBMITTER: Omelchenko T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3288737 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature