Protein tyrosine kinase 7 regulates extracellular matrix integrity and mesenchymal intracellular RAC1 and myosin II activities during Wolffian duct morphogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Wolffian duct morphogenesis must be highly coordinated with its specialized function of providing an optimal microenvironment for sperm maturation. Without normal Wolffian duct morphogenesis, male infertility will result. Our previous study showed that mediolateral and radial intercalation of epithelial and mesenchymal cells respectively, were major drivers of ductal elongation and were regulated by protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7), a member of the planar cell polarity (PCP) non-canonical Wnt pathway. To understand the mechanism by which PTK7 regulates cell rearrangement/intercalation, we investigated the integrity of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the activity of intracellular cytoskeleton mediators following loss of Ptk7. Abnormal assembly of nephronectin, laminin, and collagen IV at

SUBMITTER: Xu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5916337 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature