PLoS ONE (Apr 2011)

Complex interactions between GSK3 and aPKC in Drosophila embryonic epithelial morphogenesis.

  • Nicole A Kaplan,
  • Pamela F Colosimo,
  • Xiaoping Liu,
  • Nicholas S Tolwinski

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0018616
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 4
p. e18616

Abstract

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Generally, epithelial cells must organize in three dimensions to form functional tissue sheets. Here we investigate one such sheet, the Drosophila embryonic epidermis, and the morphogenetic processes organizing cells within it. We report that epidermal morphogenesis requires the proper distribution of the apical polarity determinant aPKC. Specifically, we find roles for the kinases GSK3 and aPKC in cellular alignment, asymmetric protein distribution, and adhesion during the development of this polarized tissue. Finally, we propose a model explaining how regulation of aPKC protein levels can reorganize both adhesion and the cytoskeleton.