Colon cryptogenesis: asymmetric budding.
- Author(s)
- Tan, CW; Hirokawa, Y; Gardiner, BS; Smith, DW; Burgess, AW;
- Details
- Publication Year 2013,Volume 8,Issue #10,Page e78519
- Journal Title
- PloS One
- Publication Type
- Journal Article
- Abstract
- The process of crypt formation and the roles of Wnt and cell-cell adhesion signaling in cryptogenesis are not well described; but are important to the understanding of both normal and cancer colon crypt biology. A quantitative 3D-microscopy and image analysis technique is used to study the frequency, morphology and molecular topography associated with crypt formation. Measurements along the colon reveal the details of crypt formation and some key underlying biochemical signals regulating normal colon biology. Our measurements revealed an asymmetrical crypt budding process, contrary to the previously reported symmetrical fission of crypts. 3D immunofluorescence analyses reveals heterogeneity in the subcellular distribution of E-cadherin and β-catenin in distinct crypt populations. This heterogeneity was also found in asymmetrical budding crypts. Singular crypt formation (i.e. no multiple new crypts forming from one parent crypt) were observed in crypts isolated from the normal colon mucosa, suggestive of a singular constraint mechanism to prevent aberrant crypt production. The technique presented improves our understanding of cryptogenesis and suggests that excess coloFlun crypt formation occurs when Wnt signaling is perturbed (e.g. by truncation of adenomatous polyposis coli, APC protein) in most colon cancers.
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Keywords
- Wnt signalling cascade ; colon cancer ; Cell membranes ; Fluorescence imaging
- Research Division(s)
- Structural Biology
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0078519
- Open Access at Publisher's Site
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3804607/- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Copyright: © 2013 Tan et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Creation Date: 2013-01-01 12:00:00