Abstract
Cell migration plays a pivotal role in morphogenetic and pathogenetic processes. To achieve directional migration, cells must establish a front-to-rear axis of polarity. Here we show that components of thecadherin-catenin complex function to stabilize thisfront-rear polarity. Neural crest and glioblastoma cells undergo directional migration invivo or invitro. During this process, αE-catenin accumulated at lamellipodial membranes and then moved toward therear with the support of a tyrosine-phosphorylated β-catenin. This relocating αE-catenin bound to p115RhoGEF, leading to gathering of active RhoA in front of the nucleus where myosin-IIB arcs assemble. When catenins or p115RhoGEF were removed, cells lost the polarized myosin-IIB assembly, as well as the capability for directional movement. These results suggest that, apart from its well-known function in cell adhesion, the β-catenin/αE-catenin complex regulates directional cell migration by restricting active RhoA to perinuclear regions and controlling myosin-IIB dynamics at these sites.
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