QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

Vol. 21, Issue 2, 219-231, January 15, 2010

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Materials All Versions of this Article: E09-03-0193v1 21/2/219    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koch, A. Articles by Delacour, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Koch, A. Articles by Delacour, D.

Galectin-3, a Novel Centrosome-associated Protein, Required for Epithelial Morphogenesis

Annett Koch^*,, Francoise Poirier, Ralf Jacob^*, and Delphine Delacour^*,

*Department of Cell Biology and Cell Pathology, Philipps University, D-35033 Marburg, Germany; Jacques Monod Institute, UMR-CNRS7592, Paris Diderot University, 75013 Paris, France

Submitted March 9, 2009; Revised October 30, 2009; Accepted November 5, 2009
Monitoring Editor: Benjamin Margolis

Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside–binding protein widely expressed in all epithelia where it is involved in tissue homeostasis and cancer progression. We recently reported unique abnormalities in the identity of membrane domains in galectin-3 null mutant mice, suggesting that galectin-3 may participate in epithelial polarity program. We investigated the potential role of galectin-3 on early events in polarization of epithelial renal cells, using three-dimensional cultures of MDCK cells and also galectin-3 null mutant mouse kidneys. We show that depletion in galectin-3 systematically leads to severe perturbations of microtubular network associated with defects in membrane compartimentation, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the absence of galectin-3 impinges on the morphology of the primary cilium, which is three times longer and unusually shaped. By immunological and biochemical approaches, we could demonstrate that endogenous galectin-3 is normally associated with basal bodies and centrosomes, where it closely interacts with core proteins, such as centrin-2. However, this association transiently occurs during the process of epithelial polarization. Interestingly, galectin-3–depleted cells contain numerous centrosome-like structures, demonstrating an unexpected function of this protein in the formation and/or stability of the centrosomes. Collectively, these data establish galectin-3 as a key determinant in epithelial morphogenesis via its effect on centrosome biology.

Present addresses: Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CCM, Institut für Biochemie, Monbijoustraße 2, 10117 Berlin, Germany;

Institut Jacques-Monod, CNRS UMR 7592, Université Paris 7, Bâtiment Buffon, 15 Rue Hélène Brion, 75013 Paris.

Address correspondence to: Ralf Jacob (jacob{at}staff.uni-marburg.de) or Delphine Delacour (delacour.delphine{at}ijm.univ-paris-diderot.fr)