A junctional PACSIN2/EHD4/MICAL-L1 complex coordinates VE-cadherin trafficking for endothelial migration and angiogenesis

Nat Commun. 2021 May 10;12(1):2610. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22873-y.

Abstract

Angiogenic sprouting relies on collective migration and coordinated rearrangements of endothelial leader and follower cells. VE-cadherin-based adherens junctions have emerged as key cell-cell contacts that transmit forces between cells and trigger signals during collective cell migration in angiogenesis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern these processes and their functional importance for vascular development still remain unknown. We previously showed that the F-BAR protein PACSIN2 is recruited to tensile asymmetric adherens junctions between leader and follower cells. Here we report that PACSIN2 mediates the formation of endothelial sprouts during angiogenesis by coordinating collective migration. We show that PACSIN2 recruits the trafficking regulators EHD4 and MICAL-L1 to the rear end of asymmetric adherens junctions to form a recycling endosome-like tubular structure. The junctional PACSIN2/EHD4/MICAL-L1 complex controls local VE-cadherin trafficking and thereby coordinates polarized endothelial migration and angiogenesis. Our findings reveal a molecular event at force-dependent asymmetric adherens junctions that occurs during the tug-of-war between endothelial leader and follower cells, and allows for junction-based guidance during collective migration in angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Adherens Junctions / genetics
  • Adherens Junctions / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Catenins / metabolism
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, CD
  • Cadherins
  • Catenins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EHD4 protein, human
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PACSIN2 protein, human
  • cadherin 5
  • MICAL1 protein, human
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases