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
  • Membrane Glycoproteins/physiology*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules/physiology*
  • Animals
  • Epithelium/embryology
  • Epithelium/growth & development*
  • Cadherins/physiology
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Morphogenesis*
  • Skin/embryology
  • Skin/growth & development*
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/physiology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm/physiology*
(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
Figure Gallery (17 images) / 2
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
gz7TgTransgenic Insertion
    hi2151TgTransgenic Insertion
    hi2836TgTransgenic Insertion
    vu119TgTransgenic Insertion
      1 - 4 of 4
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      Human Disease / Model
      No data available
      Sequence Targeting Reagents
      Target Reagent Reagent Type
      cdh1MO3-cdh1MRPHLNO
      epcamMO2-epcamMRPHLNO
      tnikaMO1-tnikaMRPHLNO
      1 - 3 of 3
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      Fish
      Antibodies
      Name Type Antigen Genes Isotypes Host Organism
      Ab2-tjp1polyclonalRabbit
      1 - 1 of 1
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      Orthology
      No data available
      Engineered Foreign Genes
      Marker Marker Type Name
      EGFPEFGEGFP
      GFPEFGGFP
      1 - 2 of 2
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      Mapping
      No data available