Rho inhibition promotes a hepatocytic cell division and polarity phenotype in MDCK cells. (A–H) MDCK cells untreated (control) and treated with a Rho inhibitor were fixed and stained as indicated (A, C–E, and G). Architecture of 2D cultures (A and C), anaphase (D and G), and cytokinesis profiles (E) are shown. Cells not contacting the substratum are denoted by an asterisk in x-z views (A and C). (B) The percentage of cells contacting the substratum was quantified. (A) Note the hepatocytic-like pattern of ZO-1 distribution in Rho-inhibited MDCK cells. (E–H) Comparison of the percentage of cytokinesis with both daughter cells contacting the substratum (E), anaphase β angle and m, h/d, Cx-z values (G and H, respectively), and EcadTSMod FRET efficiency (F). (A, C, D, and G) Red arrowheads show hepatocytic-like lateral lumina. (E) Black arrowhead shows daughter that lost substrate contact. n = 20 cells/experiment were analyzed for N = 3 independent experiments (B and E–H). Error bars indicate ±SEM (dot graph) and +SD (bar graphs). *, P ≤ 0.05; **, P ≤ 0.01; ***, P ≤ 0.001; ns, nonsignificant, analyzed by t test.
