The Asymmetric Cell Division Regulators Par3, Scribble and Pins/Gpsm2 Are Not Essential for Erythroid Development or Enucleation

PLoS One. 2017 Jan 17;12(1):e0170295. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170295. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Erythroid enucleation is the process by which the future red blood cell disposes of its nucleus prior to entering the blood stream. This key event during red blood cell development has been likened to an asymmetric cell division (ACD), by which the enucleating erythroblast divides into two very different daughter cells of alternate molecular composition, a nucleated cell that will be removed by associated macrophages, and the reticulocyte that will mature to the definitive erythrocyte. Here we investigated gene expression of members of the Par, Scribble and Pins/Gpsm2 asymmetric cell division complexes in erythroid cells, and functionally tested their role in erythroid enucleation in vivo and ex vivo. Despite their roles in regulating ACD in other contexts, we found that these polarity regulators are not essential for erythroid enucleation, nor for erythroid development in vivo. Together our results put into question a role for cell polarity and asymmetric cell division in erythroid enucleation.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Asymmetric Cell Division / physiology*
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / physiology*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Polarity
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Erythroblasts / cytology*
  • Erythroblasts / metabolism
  • Erythropoiesis / physiology*
  • Female
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LGN protein, mouse
  • Pard3 protein, mouse
  • scribble protein, mouse

Grants and funding

The studies presented here were supported by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC). CBW was supported by the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA). POH and SMR were supported by a Senior Research Fellowship from the NHMRC.