Role of forward and reverse signaling in Eph receptor and ephrin mediated cell segregation.

Role of forward and reverse signaling in Eph receptor and ephrin mediated cell segregation.
Exp Cell Res. 2019 May 07;:
Authors: Wu Z, Ashlin TG, Xu Q, Wilkinson DG
Abstract
Eph receptor and ephrin signaling has a major role in segregating distinct cell populations to form sharp borders. Expression of interacting Ephs and ephrins typically occurs in complementary regions, such that polarised activation of both components occurs at the interface. Forward signaling through Eph receptors can drive cell segregation, but it is unclear whether reverse signaling through ephrins can also contribute. We have tested the role of reverse signaling, and of polarised versus non-polarised activation, in assays in which contact repulsion drives cell segregation and border sharpening. We find that polarised forward signaling drives stronger segregation than polarised reverse signaling. Nevertheless, reverse signaling contributes since bidirectional Eph and ephrin activation drives stronger segregation than unidirectional forward signaling alone. In contrast, non-polarised Eph activation drives little segregation. We propose that although polarised forward signaling is the principal driver of segregation, reverse signaling enables bidirectional repulsion which prevents mingling of each population into the other.
PMID: 31075258 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Experimental Cell Research - May 6, 2019 Category: Cytology Authors: Wu Z, Ashlin TG, Xu Q, Wilkinson DG Tags: Exp Cell Res Source Type: research