Bves and NDRG4 regulate directional epicardial cell migration through autocrine extracellular matrix deposition

Mol Biol Cell. 2013 Nov;24(22):3496-510. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E12-07-0539. Epub 2013 Sep 18.

Abstract

Directional cell movement is universally required for tissue morphogenesis. Although it is known that cell/matrix interactions are essential for directional movement in heart development, the mechanisms governing these interactions require elucidation. Here we demonstrate that a novel protein/protein interaction between blood vessel epicardial substance (Bves) and N-myc downstream regulated gene 4 (NDRG4) is critical for regulation of epicardial cell directional movement, as disruption of this interaction randomizes migratory patterns. Our studies show that Bves/NDRG4 interaction is required for trafficking of internalized fibronectin through the "autocrine extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition" fibronectin recycling pathway. Of importance, we demonstrate that Bves/NDRG4-mediated fibronectin recycling is indeed essential for epicardial cell directional movement, thus linking these two cell processes. Finally, total internal reflectance fluorescence microscopy shows that Bves/NDRG4 interaction is required for fusion of recycling endosomes with the basal cell surface, providing a molecular mechanism of motility substrate delivery that regulates cell directional movement. This is the first evidence of a molecular function for Bves and NDRG4 proteins within broader subcellular trafficking paradigms. These data identify novel regulators of a critical vesicle-docking step required for autocrine ECM deposition and explain how Bves facilitates cell-microenvironment interactions in the regulation of epicardial cell-directed movement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autocrine Communication
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Cell Movement / genetics*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Endosomes / ultrastructure
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Matrix / ultrastructure
  • Fibronectins / genetics
  • Fibronectins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics*
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Pericardium / cytology
  • Pericardium / metabolism*
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transport Vesicles / metabolism
  • Transport Vesicles / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Bves protein, mouse
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Fibronectins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Ndrg4 protein, mouse
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins