Desmosomal adhesion regulates epithelial morphogenesis and cell positioning

Desmosomes are intercellular junctions of epithelia and are of widespread i mportance in the maintenance of tissue architecture. We provide evidence th at desmosomal adhesion has a function in epithelial morphogenesis and cell- type-specific positioning. Blocking peptides corresponding to the cell adhe sion recognition (CAR) sites of desmosomal cadherins block alveolar morphog enesis by epithelial cells from mammary lumen. Desmosomal CAR-site peptides also disrupt positional sorting of luminal and myoepithelial cells in aggr egates formed by the reassociation of isolated cells. We demonstrate that d esmosomal cadherins and E-cadherin are comparably involved in epithelial mo rphoregulation. The results indicate a wider role for desmosomal adhesion i n morphogenesis than has previously been considered.