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Published 9 July 2001. doi:10.1083/jcb.200105047
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© The Rockefeller University Press, 0021-9525/2001/7/217 $5.00
The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 154, Number 1, July 9, 2001 217-230

Article

 Modulation of mouse neural crest cell motility by N-cadherin and connexin 43 gap junctions

X. Xu1, W.E.I. Li1, G.Y. Huang1, R. Meyer2, T. Chen1, Y. Luo2, M.P. Thomas1, G.L. Radice2 and C.W. Lo1

1 Biology Department, Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
2 Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Address correspondence to C.W. Lo, Biology Dept., Goddard Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6017. Tel.: (215) 898-3693/8394. Fax: (215) 898-8780. E-mail:clo{at}sas.upenn.edu

Connexin 43 (Cx43{alpha}1) gap junction has been shown to have an essential role in mediating functional coupling of neural crest cells and in modulating neural crest cell migration. Here, we showed that N-cadherin and wnt1 are required for efficient dye coupling but not for the expression of Cx43{alpha}1 gap junctions in neural crest cells. Cell motility was found to be altered in the N-cadherin–deficient neural crest cells, but the alterations were different from that elicited by Cx43{alpha}1 deficiency. In contrast, wnt1-deficient neural crest cells showed no discernible change in cell motility. These observations suggest that dye coupling may not be a good measure of gap junction communication relevant to motility. Alternatively, Cx43{alpha}1 may serve a novel function in motility. We observed that p120 catenin (p120ctn), an Armadillo protein known to modulate cell motility, is colocalized not only with N-cadherin but also with Cx43{alpha}1. Moreover, the subcellular distribution of p120ctn was altered with N-cadherin or Cx43{alpha}1 deficiency. Based on these findings, we propose a model in which Cx43{alpha}1 and N-cadherin may modulate neural crest cell motility by engaging in a dynamic cross-talk with the cell's locomotory apparatus through p120ctn signaling.

Key Words: cadherin; connexin; wnt; neural crest; catenin


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