The cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin2 regulates brush border length and organization in Drosophila renal tubules

Halberg, K. A., Rainey, S. M., Veland, I. R., Neuert, H., Dornan, A. J. , Klämbt, C., Davies, S.-A. and Dow, J. A.T. (2016) The cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin2 regulates brush border length and organization in Drosophila renal tubules. Nature Communications, 7, 11266. (doi: 10.1038/ncomms11266) (PMID:27072072) (PMCID:PMC4833865)

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Abstract

Multicellular organisms rely on cell adhesion molecules to coordinate cell–cell interactions, and to provide navigational cues during tissue formation. In Drosophila, Fasciclin 2 (Fas2) has been intensively studied due to its role in nervous system development and maintenance; yet, Fas2 is most abundantly expressed in the adult renal (Malpighian) tubule rather than in neuronal tissues. The role Fas2 serves in this epithelium is unknown. Here we show that Fas2 is essential to brush border maintenance in renal tubules of Drosophila. Fas2 is dynamically expressed during tubule morphogenesis, localizing to the brush border whenever the tissue is transport competent. Genetic manipulations of Fas2 expression levels impact on both microvilli length and organization, which in turn dramatically affect stimulated rates of fluid secretion by the tissue. Consequently, we demonstrate a radically different role for this well-known cell adhesion molecule, and propose that Fas2-mediated intermicrovillar homophilic adhesion complexes help stabilize the brush border.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:BBSRC funding.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Dow, Professor Julian and Halberg, Dr Kenneth and Dornan, Dr Anthony and Rainey, Dr Stephanie and Davies, Professor Shireen
Authors: Halberg, K. A., Rainey, S. M., Veland, I. R., Neuert, H., Dornan, A. J., Klämbt, C., Davies, S.-A., and Dow, J. A.T.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Nature Communications
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:2041-1723
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Nature Communications 7:11266

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
626691Functional Genomics of the enigmatic stellate cell.Shireen DaviesBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/L002647/1RI MOLECULAR CELL & SYSTEMS BIOLOGY