A Tuba/Cdc42/Par6A complex is required to ensure singularity in apical domain formation during enterocyte polarization

PLoS One. 2018 Nov 8;13(11):e0207159. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207159. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Apico-basal polarity establishment is a seminal process in tissue morphogenesis. To function properly it is often imperative that epithelial cells limit apical membrane formation to a single domain. We previously demonstrated that signaling by the small GTPase Cdc42, together with its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Tuba, is required to prevent the formation of multiple apical domains in polarized Ls174T:W4 cells, a single cell model for enterocyte polarization. To further chart the molecular signaling mechanisms that safeguard singularity during enterocyte polarization we generated knockout cells for the Cdc42 effector protein Par6A. Par6A loss results in the formation of multiple apical domains, similar to loss of Cdc42. In Par6A knockout cells, we find that active Cdc42 is more mobile at the apical membrane compared to control cells and that wild type Cdc42 is more diffusely localized throughout the cell, indicating that Par6A is required to restrict Cdc42 signaling. Par6A, Cdc42 and its GEF Tuba bind in a co-immunoprecipitation experiment and they partially colocalize at the apical membrane in polarized Ls174T:W4 cells, suggesting the formation of a trimeric complex. Indeed, in a rescue experiment using Par6A mutants, we show that the ability to establish this trimeric complex correlates with the ability to restore singularity in Par6A knockout cells. Together, these experiments therefore indicate that a Tuba/Cdc42/Par6A complex is required to ensure the formation of a single apical domain during enterocyte polarization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / chemistry
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Polarity / genetics
  • Cell Polarity / physiology*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / chemistry
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Enterocytes / cytology*
  • Enterocytes / metabolism*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / chemistry
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Microvilli / metabolism
  • Microvilli / ultrastructure
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Signal Transduction
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / chemistry
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DNMBP protein, human
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • PARD6A protein, human
  • CDC42 protein, human
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the gravitation program “Cancer GenomiCs.nl” of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). The Oncode Institute is supported by the Dutch Cancer Society. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.