A role for a micron-scale supramolecular myosin array in adherens junction cytoskeletal assembly

Abstract

Epithelial cells assemble specialized actomyosin structures at E-Cadherin-based cell-cell junctions, and the force exerted drives cell shape change during morphogenesis. The mechanisms used to build this supramolecular actomyosin structure remain unclear. We used ZO-knockdown MDCK cells, which assemble a robust, polarized and highly organized actomyosin cytoskeleton at the zonula adherens, and combined genetic and pharmacological approaches with super-resolution microscopy to define molecular machines required. To our surprise, inhibiting individual actin assembly pathways (Arp2/3, formins or Ena/VASP) did not prevent or delay assembly of this polarized actomyosin structure. Instead, as junctions matured, micrometer-scale supramolecular myosin arrays assembled, with aligned stacks of myosin filaments adjacent to the apical membrane, while associated actin filaments remained disorganized. This suggested these myosin arrays might bundle actin at mature junctions. Consistent with this, inhibiting ROCK or myosin ATPase disrupted myosin localization/organization, and prevented actin bundling and polarization. These results suggest a novel mechanism by which myosin self-assembly helps drive actin organization to facilitate cell shape change. SummaryWe explored mechanisms epithelial cells use to assemble supramolecular actomyosin structures at E-Cadherin-based cell-cell junctions. Our data suggest individual actin assembly pathways are not essential. Instead, microscopy and pharmacological inhibition suggest micrometer-scale supramolecular myosin arrays help bundle actin at mature junctions.