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Essential role of MARCKS in cortical actin dynamics during gastrulation movements

Department of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, and Department of Molecular Biomechanics, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Aichi 444-8585, Japan

Address correspondence to Noriyuki Kinoshita, Dept. of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan. Tel.: 81-564-55-7573. Fax: 81-564-55-7571. email: nkinoshi{at}nibb.ac.jp

Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) is an actin-binding, membrane-associated protein expressed during Xenopus embryogenesis. We analyzed its function in cytoskeletal regulation during gastrulation. Here, we show that blockade of its function impaired morphogenetic movements, including convergent extension. MARCKS was required for control of cell morphology, motility, adhesion, protrusive activity, and cortical actin formation in embryonic cells. We also demonstrate that the noncanonical Wnt pathway promotes the formation of lamellipodia- and filopodia-like protrusions and that MARCKS is necessary for this activity. These findings show that MARCKS regulates the cortical actin formation that is requisite for dynamic morphogenetic movements.

Key Words: cell adhesion; Xenopus; cell movement; convergent extension; Wnt pathway

Abbreviations used in this paper: DMZ, dorsal marginal zone; FN, fibronectin; MARCKS, myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate, mb-Venus, membrane-binding Venus; Mo, Morpholino oligonucleotide; RFP, red fluorescent protein; RMA, RFP-moesin actin; Xdsh, Xenopus Dishevelled; XMLP, MARCKS-like protein.

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