PUBLICATION

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule EpCAM is required for epithelial morphogenesis and integrity during zebrafish epiboly and skin development

Authors

Slanchev, K., Carney, T.J., Stemmler, M.P., Koschorz, B., Amsterdam, A., Schwarz, H., and Hammerschmidt, M.

ID

ZDB-PUB-090720-6

Date

2009

Source

PLoS Genetics 5(7): e1000563 (Journal)

Registered Authors

Amsterdam, Adam, Carney, Tom, Hammerschmidt, Matthias, Slanchev, Krasimir

Keywords

Embryos, Zebrafish, Keratinocytes, Basal cells, Cell staining, Morphogenesis, Tight junctions, Cell differentiation

MeSH Terms

Cadherins/physiology
Cell Adhesion
Animals
Skin/embryology
Skin/growth & development*
Zebrafish Proteins/physiology*
Membrane Glycoproteins/physiology*
Epithelium/embryology
Epithelium/growth & development*
Zebrafish
Embryo, Nonmammalian
Antigens, Neoplasm/physiology*
Cell Adhesion Molecules/physiology*
Morphogenesis*

(all 14)

PubMed

19609345 Full text @ PLoS Genet.

Abstract

The aberrant expression of the transmembrane protein EpCAM is associated with tumor progression, affecting different cellular processes such as cell-cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, signaling, and invasion. However, the in vivo function of EpCAM still remains elusive due to the lack of genetic loss-of-function studies. Here, we describe epcam (tacstd) null mutants in zebrafish. Maternal-zygotic mutants display compromised basal protrusive activity and epithelial morphogenesis in cells of the enveloping layer (EVL) during epiboly. In partial redundancy with E-cadherin (Ecad), EpCAM made by EVL cells is further required for cell-cell adhesion within the EVL and, possibly, for proper attachment of underlying deep cells to the inner surface of the EVL, thereby also affecting deep cell epiboly movements. During later development, EpCAM per se becomes indispensable for epithelial integrity within the periderm of the skin, secondarily leading to disrupted morphology of the underlying basal epidermis and moderate hyper-proliferation of skin cells. On the molecular level, EVL cells of epcam mutant embryos display reduced levels of membranous Ecad, accompanied by an enrichment of tight junction proteins and a basal extension of apical junction complexes (AJCs). Our data suggest that EpCAM acts as a partner of E-cadherin to control adhesiveness and integrity as well as plasticity and morphogenesis within simple epithelia. In addition, EpCAM is required for the interaction of the epithelia with underlying cell layers.

Genes / Markers

Figures