EphrinB2 affects apical constriction in Xenopus embryos and is regulated by ADAM10 and flotillin-1

Nat Commun. 2014 Mar 24:5:3516. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4516.

Abstract

The Eph/ephrin signalling pathways have a critical function in cell adhesion and repulsion, and thus play key roles in various morphogenetic events during development. Here we show that a decrease in ephrinB2 protein causes neural tube closure defects during Xenopus laevis embryogenesis. Such a decrease in ephrinB2 protein levels is observed on the loss of flotillin-1 scaffold protein, a newly identified ephrinB2-binding partner. This dramatic decline in ephrinB2 protein levels on the absence of flotillin-1 expression is specific, and is partly the result of an increased susceptibility to cleavage by the metalloprotease ADAM10. These findings indicate that flotillin-1 regulates ephrinB2 protein levels through ADAM10, and is required for appropriate neural tube morphogenesis in the Xenopus embryo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • ADAM Proteins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / physiology
  • Ephrin-B2 / metabolism*
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Morphogenesis / physiology*
  • Neural Tube Defects / embryology*
  • Neural Tube Defects / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Xenopus laevis / embryology*
  • Xenopus laevis / metabolism

Substances

  • Ephrin-B2
  • Membrane Proteins
  • flotillins
  • ADAM Proteins