Apico-basal elongation requires a drebrin-E-EB3 complex in columnar human epithelial cells.

Although columnar epithelial cells are known to acquire an elongated shape, the mechanisms involved in this morphological feature have not yet been completely elucidated. Using columnar human intestinal Caco2 cells, it was established here that the levels of drebrin E, an actin-binding protein, increase in the terminal web both in vitro and in vivo during the formation of the apical domain. Drebrin E depletion was found to impair cell compaction and elongation processes in the monolayer without affecting cell polarity or the formation of tight junctions.

Hook2 is involved in the morphogenesis of the primary cilium.

Primary cilia originate from the centrosome and play essential roles in several cellular, developmental, and pathological processes, but the underlying mechanisms of ciliogenesis are not fully understood. Given the involvement of the adaptor protein Hook2 in centrosomal homeostasis and protein transport to pericentrosomal aggresomes, we explored its role in ciliogenesis. We found that in human retinal epithelial cells, Hook2 localizes at the Golgi apparatus and centrosome/basal body, a strategic partitioning for ciliogenesis.

Crumbs proteins in epithelial morphogenesis.

Cell polarity is an essential feature of most eukaryotic cells, especially epithelial cells in multicellular animals. Polarity protein complexes that regulate epithelial organization have been identified. In this review, it is proposed to describe how the Crumbs complex acts in the process of cell polarity and epithelial organization.

PSD95beta regulates plasma membrane Ca2+ pump localization at the photoreceptor synapse.

At the presynaptic plasma membrane of the photoreceptor the correct localization of the calcium extruder, plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA), is determined by a unique protein complex. Here, the role of two proteins within the complex; membrane palmitoylated protein 4 (MPP4) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) is investigated in more details, using Mpp4 and Psd95 mutant mice. MPP4 deficiency results in the loss of both PMCA and PSD95 from the photoreceptor synapse.

CD146 and its soluble form regulate monocyte transendothelial migration.

Objectives: During inflammation, cell adhesion molecules are modulated or redistributed for leukocyte transmigration. Among molecules at the interendothelial junction, CD146 is involved in cell-cell cohesion and permeability, but its role in monocyte transmigration is unknown.

Methods And Results: TNF enhanced CD146 expression at the junction and apical membrane of human umbilical veins endothelial cells (HUVECs) through CD146 synthesis and intracellular store redistribution.