Apical-basal polarity regulators are essential for slit diaphragm assembly and endocytosis in Drosophila nephrocytes

In this study, we used expansion microscopy and found the apical polarity determinants of the PAR/aPKC and Crb-complexes to be predominantly targeted to the cell cortex in proximity to the nephrocyte diaphragm, whereas basolateral regulators also accumulate intracellularly. Knockdown of PAR-complex proteins results in severe endocytosis and nephrocyte diaphragm defects, which is due to impaired aPKC recruitment to the plasma membrane. Similar, downregulation of most basolateral polarity regulators disrupts Nephrin localization but had surprisingly divergent effects on endocytosis. Our findings suggest that morphology and slit diaphragm assembly/maintenance of nephrocytes is regulated by classical apical-basal polarity regulators, which have distinct functions in endocytosis.PMID:33651172 | DOI:10.1007/s00018-021-03769-y

Source: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS - March 2, 2021 Category: Cytology Authors: Stefanie Heiden Rebecca Siwek Marie-Luise Lotz Sarah Borkowsky Rita Schr öter Pavel Nedvetsky Astrid Rohlmann Markus Missler Michael P Krahn Source Type: research