Phosphorylation of Rab11-FIP2 regulates polarity in MDCK cells

Mol Biol Cell. 2012 Jun;23(12):2302-18. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E11-08-0681. Epub 2012 May 2.

Abstract

The Rab11 effector Rab11-family interacting protein 2 (Rab11-FIP2) regulates transcytosis through its interactions with Rab11a and myosin Vb. Previous studies implicated Rab11-FIP2 in the establishment of polarity in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells through phosphorylation of Ser-227 by MARK2. Here we examine the dynamic role of Rab11-FIP2 phosphorylation on MDCK cell polarity. Endogenous Rab11-FIP2 phosphorylated on Ser-227 coalesces on vesicular plaques during the reestablishment of polarity after either monolayer wounding or calcium switch. Whereas expression of the nonphosphorylatable Rab11-FIP2(S227A) elicits a loss in lumen formation in MDCK cell cysts grown in Matrigel, the putative pseudophosphorylated Rab11-FIP2(S227E) mutant induces the formation of cysts with multiple lumens. On permeable filters, Rab11-FIP2(S227E)-expressing cells exhibit alterations in the composition of both the adherens and tight junctions. At the adherens junction, p120 catenin and K-cadherin are retained, whereas the majority of the E-cadherin is lost. Although ZO-1 is retained at the tight junction, occludin is lost and the claudin composition is altered. Of interest, the effects of Rab11-FIP2 on cellular polarity did not involve myosin Vb or Rab11a. These results indicate that Ser-227 phosphorylation of Rab11-FIP2 regulates the composition of both adherens and tight junctions and is intimately involved in the regulation of polarity in epithelial cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adherens Junctions / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Catenins / genetics
  • Catenins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Polarity*
  • Claudins / genetics
  • Claudins / metabolism
  • Delta Catenin
  • Dogs
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mutation
  • Occludin
  • Phosphorylation
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Serine / genetics
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Tight Junctions / metabolism
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Catenins
  • Claudins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • OCLN protein, human
  • Occludin
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Serine
  • K cadherin
  • Delta Catenin