Engulfed cadherin fingers are polarized junctional structures between collectively migrating endothelial cells. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The development and maintenance of tissues requires collective cell movement, during which neighbouring cells coordinate the polarity of their migration machineries. Here, we ask how polarity signals are transmitted from one cell to another across symmetrical cadherin junctions, during collective migration. We demonstrate that collectively migrating endothelial cells have polarized VE-cadherin-rich membrane protrusions, 'cadherin fingers', which leading cells extend from their rear and follower cells engulf at their front, thereby generating opposite membrane curvatures and asymmetric recruitment of curvature-sensing proteins. In follower cells, engulfment of cadherin fingers occurs along with the formation of a lamellipodia-like zone with low actomyosin contractility, and requires VE-cadherin/catenin complexes and Arp2/3-driven actin polymerization. Lateral accumulation of cadherin fingers in follower cells precedes turning, and increased actomyosin contractility can initiate cadherin finger extension as well as engulfment by a neighbouring cell, to promote follower behaviour. We propose that cadherin fingers serve as guidance cues that direct collective cell migration.

publication date

  • November 14, 2016

Research

keywords

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cadherins
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Polarity
  • Endothelial Cells
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Phagocytosis

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC6159904

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84995480683

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1038/ncb3438

PubMed ID

  • 27842057

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 18

issue

  • 12