Adherens junction-associated pores mediate the intercellular transport of endosomes and cytoplasmic proteins.

Adherens junction-associated pores mediate the intercellular transport of endosomes and cytoplasmic proteins.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018 Oct 02;:
Authors: Yang WT, Li YC, Lin CM, Tang WC, Chen BC, Suzuki E, Hsu JC
Abstract
Intercellular endosomes (IEs) are endocytosed vesicles shuttled through the adherens junctions (AJs) between two neighboring epidermal cells during Drosophila dorsal closure. The cell-to-cell transport of IEs requires DE-cadherin (DE-cad), microtubules (MTs) and kinesin. However, the mechanisms by which IEs can be transported through the AJs are unknown. Here, we demonstrate the presence of AJ-associated pores with MTs traversing through the pores. Live imaging allows direct visualization of IEs being transported through the AJ-associated pores. By using an optogenetic dimerization system, we observe that the dimerized IE-kinesin complexes move across AJs into the neighboring cell. The AJ-associated pores also allow intercellular movement of soluble proteins. Importantly, most epidermal cells form dorsoventral-oriented two-cell syncytia. Together, we present a model in which an AJ-associated pore mediates the intercellular transport of IEs and proteins between two cells in direct contact.
PMID: 30286955 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Biochemical and Biophysical Research communications - October 2, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Yang WT, Li YC, Lin CM, Tang WC, Chen BC, Suzuki E, Hsu JC Tags: Biochem Biophys Res Commun Source Type: research