Abstract
Interactions between microtubule and actin networks are thought to be crucial for mechanical and signalling events at the cell cortex. Cytoplasmic dynein has been proposed to mediate many of these interactions1,2,3. Here, we report that dynein is localized to the cortex at adherens junctions in cultured epithelial cells and that this localization is sensitive to drugs that disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. Dynein is recruited to developing contacts between cells, where it localizes with the junctional proteins β-catenin and E-cadherin. Microtubules project towards these early contacts and we hypothesize that dynein captures and tethers microtubules at these sites. Dynein immunoprecipitates with β-catenin, and biochemical analysis shows that dynein binds directly to β-catenin. Overexpression of β-catenin disrupts the cellular localization of dynein and also dramatically perturbs the organization of the cellular microtubule array. In cells overexpressing β-catenin, the centrosome becomes disorganized and microtubules no longer appear to be anchored at the cortex. These results identify a novel role for cytoplasmic dynein in capturing and tethering microtubules at adherens junctions, thus mediating cross-talk between actin and microtubule networks at the cell cortex.
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Acknowledgements
This work was funded by a US NIH grant to E.L.F.H. and by postdoctoral fellowships from the US NIH to L.A.L. and the American Heart Association Southeastern Affiliate to S.K. E.L.F.H. is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association.
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Ligon, L., Karki, S., Tokito, M. et al. Dynein binds to β-catenin and may tether microtubules at adherens junctions. Nat Cell Biol 3, 913–917 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1001-913
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1001-913
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