Dachsous is a key player in epithelial wound closure by modulating cell shape changes and cytoskeleton dynamics

Epithelia are vital tissues in multicellular organisms, acting as barriers between external and internal environments. Simple epithelia, such as those in embryos and the adult gut, have the remarkable ability to repair wounds efficiently, making them ideal for studying epithelial repair mechanisms. In these tissues, wound closure involves the coordinated action of a contractile actomyosin cable at the wound edge and collective cell movements around the wound. However, the dynamics of cell-cell interactions during this process remain poorly understood.

Here, we demonstrate that Dachsous (Ds), an atypical cadherin associated with Planar Cell Polarity, is crucial for efficient epithelial repair in the Drosophila embryonic epidermis. We show that the absence of Ds leads to delayed wound closure, impaired actomyosin cable formation, and altered cell shape changes. Additionally, we reveal that Occluding Junctions are necessary for the proper apical localization of Ds, suggesting an unanticipated interaction between these two molecular complexes. This study identifies Ds as a novel player in epithelial repair and highlights the need for further investigating the molecular mechanisms by which Ds modulates cell shape and tissue morphogenesis.

Summary statement

This study shows that the atypical cadherin Dachsous is essential for epithelial wound closure, influencing cytoskeletal dynamics and cell morphology, with Occluding Junctions regulating its subcellular localization.