Connexin 43 (Cx43α1) gap junction has been shown to have an essential role in mediating functional coupling of neural crest cells and in modulating neural crest cell migration. Here, we showed that N-cadherin and wnt1 are required for efficient dye coupling but not for the expression of Cx43α1 gap junctions in neural crest cells. Cell motility was found to be altered in the N-cadherin–deficient neural crest cells, but the alterations were different from that elicited by Cx43α1 deficiency. In contrast, wnt1-deficient neural crest cells showed no discernible change in cell motility. These observations suggest that dye coupling may not be a good measure of gap junction communication relevant to motility. Alternatively, Cx43α1 may serve a novel function in motility. We observed that p120 catenin (p120ctn), an Armadillo protein known to modulate cell motility, is colocalized not only with N-cadherin but also with Cx43α1. Moreover, the subcellular distribution of p120ctn was altered with N-cadherin or Cx43α1 deficiency. Based on these findings, we propose a model in which Cx43α1 and N-cadherin may modulate neural crest cell motility by engaging in a dynamic cross-talk with the cell's locomotory apparatus through p120ctn signaling.
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9 July 2001
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July 09 2001
Modulation of mouse neural crest cell motility by N-cadherin and connexin 43 gap junctions
X. Xu,
X. Xu
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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W.E.I. Li,
W.E.I. Li
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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G.Y. Huang,
G.Y. Huang
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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R. Meyer,
R. Meyer
2Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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T. Chen,
T. Chen
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Y. Luo,
Y. Luo
2Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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M.P. Thomas,
M.P. Thomas
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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G.L. Radice,
G.L. Radice
2Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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C.W. Lo
C.W. Lo
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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X. Xu
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
W.E.I. Li
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
G.Y. Huang
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
R. Meyer
2Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
T. Chen
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Y. Luo
2Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
M.P. Thomas
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
G.L. Radice
2Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
C.W. Lo
1Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Address correspondence to C.W. Lo, Biology Dept., Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6017. Tel.: (215) 898-3693/8394. Fax: (215) 898-8780. E-mail:[email protected]
R. Meyer's present address is the Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University Medical School, Omaha, NE 68178.
*
Abbreviations used in this paper: Cx43α1, connexin 43; p120ctn, p120 catenin.
Received:
May 08 2001
Accepted:
June 05 2001
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
The Rockefeller University Press
2001
J Cell Biol (2001) 154 (1): 217–230.
Article history
Received:
May 08 2001
Accepted:
June 05 2001
Citation
X. Xu, W.E.I. Li, G.Y. Huang, R. Meyer, T. Chen, Y. Luo, M.P. Thomas, G.L. Radice, C.W. Lo; Modulation of mouse neural crest cell motility by N-cadherin and connexin 43 gap junctions . J Cell Biol 9 July 2001; 154 (1): 217–230. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200105047
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