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bioRxiv · 10.1101/424705

Cdh2 coordinates Myosin-II dependent internalisation of the zebrafish neural plate

Araya, C.·Hakkinen, H.-M.·Carcamo, L.·Cerda, M.·Savy, T.·Peyrieras, N.·Rookyard, C.·Clarke, J.
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Abstract

Tissue internalisation is a key morphogenetic mechanism by which embryonic tissues generate complex internal organs and a number of studies of epithelia have outlined a general view of tissue internalisation. Here we have used quantitative live imaging and mutant analysis to determine whether similar mechanisms are responsible for internalisation in a tissue that apparently does not have a typical epithelial organisation - the zebrafish neural plate. We found that although zebrafish embryos begin neurulation without a conventional epithelium, medially located neural plate cells adopt strategies typical of epithelia in order to constrict their dorsal surface membrane during cell internalisation. Furthermore, we show that Myosin-II activity is a significant driver of this transient cell remodeling which also depends on Cdh2 (N-cadherin). Abrogation of Cdh2 results in defective Myosin-II distribution, mislocalised internalisation events and defective neural plate morphogenesis. Our work suggests Cdh2 coordinates Myosin-II dependent internalisation of the zebrafish neural plate.

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Araya, C., Hakkinen, H.-M., Carcamo, L., Cerda, M., Savy, T., Peyrieras, N., Rookyard, C., Clarke, J.. 2018-09-23. Cdh2 coordinates Myosin-II dependent internalisation of the zebrafish neural plate. https://doi.org/10.1101/424705

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