| First Author | Nakajima H | Year | 2011 |
| Journal | J Cell Biol | Volume | 195 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 245-61 |
| PubMed ID | 22006950 | Mgi Jnum | J:177716 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5295892 | Doi | 10.1083/jcb.201104118 |
| Citation | Nakajima H, et al. (2011) Lulu2 regulates the circumferential actomyosin tensile system in epithelial cells through p114RhoGEF. J Cell Biol 195(2):245-61 |
| abstractText | Myosin II-driven mechanical forces control epithelial cell shape and morphogenesis. In particular, the circumferential actomyosin belt, which is located along apical cell-cell junctions, regulates many cellular processes. Despite its importance, the molecular mechanisms regulating the belt are not fully understood. In this paper, we characterize Lulu2, a FERM (4.1 protein, ezrin, radixin, moesin) domain-containing molecule homologous to Drosophila melanogaster Yurt, as an important regulator. In epithelial cells, Lulu2 is localized along apical cell-cell boundaries, and Lulu2 depletion by ribonucleic acid interference results in disorganization of the circumferential actomyosin belt. In its regulation of the belt, Lulu2 interacts with and activates p114RhoGEF, a Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchanging factor (GEF), at apical cell-cell junctions. This interaction is negatively regulated via phosphorylation events in the FERM-adjacent domain of Lulu2 catalyzed by atypical protein kinase C. We further found that Patj, an apical cell polarity regulator, recruits p114RhoGEF to apical cell-cell boundaries via PDZ (PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1) domain-mediated interaction. These findings therefore reveal a novel molecular system regulating the circumferential actomyosin belt in epithelial cells. |
