@article{07955c0cc2684797b83ecdc666415aa2,
title = "The ERM family member Merlin is required for endometrial gland morphogenesis",
abstract = "Disruption of endometrial gland formation or function can cause female infertility. Formation of endometrial glands via tubulogenesis of luminal epithelial cells requires the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity and cell adhesion. The FERM domain-containing protein Merlin coordinates epithelial cell polarity and cell adhesion and is critical for epithelial tissue function in the skin and kidney. We now demonstrate a requirement for Merlin in endometrial gland development. Conditional deletion of Merlin in the endometrium results in female infertility caused by the absence of gland formation. Interestingly, we observed glandular epithelial markers within discrete groups of cells in the Merlin-deficient luminal epithelium. Wnt signaling, a pathway necessary for endometrial gland development is maintained in Merlin-deficient endometrium, suggesting the glandular fate program is active. Instead, we observe increased levels of apical actin and markers indicative of high membrane tension on the basal surface of the Merlin-deficient luminal epithelium. These findings suggest that the structural integrity of the luminal epithelium during gland formation is required for appropriate endometrial tubulogenesis and tissue function. Moreover, our work implicates Merlin-dependent regulation of mechanical tension in the proper formation of endometrial gland architecture and function.",
keywords = "Endometrium, Gland morphogenesis, Merlin, NF2, Tension",
author = "Lopez, {Erin Williams} and Zer Vue and Broaddus, {Russell R.} and Behringer, {Richard R.} and Gladden, {Andrew B.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank the members of the Gladden and Behringer lab for numerous discussions, comments, and suggestions on the manuscript. We would especially like to thank Alejandra Ontiveros for her technical assistance. We would like to thank Dan Carson{\textquoteright}s lab for the Muc1 antibody gift. We thank Adriana Paulucci for microscopy assistance in the Genetics Microscopy Core. Supported by Department of Defense (DOD) Grant W81XWH-14-1-0053 to A.B.G. R.R.B. was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant HD030284 and the Ben F. Love Endowment . Z.V. was supported by NIH NIGMS R25GM56929 , NIH T32-CA009299-27 , and NIH HD30284 . Veterinary resources were supported by NIH Grant CA16672 . Funding Information: We thank the members of the Gladden and Behringer lab for numerous discussions, comments, and suggestions on the manuscript. We would especially like to thank Alejandra Ontiveros for her technical assistance. We would like to thank Dan Carson's lab for the Muc1 antibody gift. We thank Adriana Paulucci for microscopy assistance in the Genetics Microscopy Core. Supported by Department of Defense (DOD) Grant W81XWH-14-1-0053 to A.B.G. R.R.B. was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant HD030284 and the Ben F. Love Endowment. Z.V. was supported by NIH NIGMS R25GM56929, NIH T32-CA009299-27, and NIH HD30284. Veterinary resources were supported by NIH Grant CA16672. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier Inc.",
year = "2018",
month = oct,
day = "15",
doi = "10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.08.006",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "442",
pages = "301--314",
journal = "Developmental Biology",
issn = "0012-1606",
publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",
number = "2",
}