Cdh2 coordinates Myosin-II dependent internalisation of the zebrafish neural plate

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 12;9(1):1835. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-38455-w.

Abstract

Tissue internalisation is a key morphogenetic mechanism by which embryonic tissues generate complex internal organs and a number of studies of epithelia have outlined a general view of tissue internalisation. Here we have used quantitative live imaging and mutant analysis to determine whether similar mechanisms are responsible for internalisation in a tissue that apparently does not have a typical epithelial organisation - the zebrafish neural plate. We found that although zebrafish embryos begin neurulation without a conventional epithelium, medially located neural plate cells adopt strategies typical of epithelia in order to constrict their dorsal surface membrane during cell internalisation. Furthermore, we show that Myosin-II activity is a significant driver of this transient cell remodeling which also depends on Cdh2 (N-cadherin). Abrogation of Cdh2 results in defective Myosin-II distribution, mislocalised internalisation events and defective neural plate morphogenesis. Our work suggests Cdh2 coordinates Myosin-II dependent internalisation of the zebrafish neural plate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Body Patterning
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Movement
  • Epithelium / embryology
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / pharmacology
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Morphogenesis
  • Myosin Type II / metabolism*
  • Myosins / metabolism
  • Neural Crest / embryology*
  • Neural Plate / embryology
  • Oligonucleotides / pharmacology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Zebrafish / embryology
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Cadherins
  • Cdh2 protein, zebrafish
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings
  • Oligonucleotides
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • blebbistatin
  • Myosin Type II
  • Myosins