Coordinated regulation of Vangl2 trafficking by Kif13 and AP-1 underlies cell-cell junction remodeling in Eriocheir sinensis testis.

Van Gogh-like 2 (Vangl2), a core planar cell polarity (PCP) component, regulates spermatogenesis in Eriocheir sinensis, yet the molecular basis of its asymmetric membrane targeting remains uncharacterized. Here, we identified a conserved trafficking module consisting of the microtubule motor Es-Kif13 and the adaptor protein complex Es-AP-1 (β1/γ1/μ1/σ2), which assembled into a tripartite complex with Es-Vangl2 in E. sinensis testis. Knockdown of Es-Kif13 or Es-AP-1β1 disrupted polarized Es-Vangl2 localization without altering protein levels, leading to its cytoplasmic dispersion. This mislocalization suppressed the RhoA/Rock/MLC2 signaling axis and triggered stage-specific F-actin disorganization in spermatocytes via epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (Eps8) dysregulation, thereby phenocopying Es-Vangl2 deficiency. Subsequently, the hemolymph-testis barrier (HTB) integrity collapsed, as evidenced by biotin tracer leakage and junctional protein remodeling. These defects culminated in spermatogenic failure, characterized by seminiferous epithelium vacuolization and spermiation obstruction. Our findings establish Es-Kif13/Es-AP-1-mediated Es-Vangl2 trafficking as an evolutionarily conserved mechanism governing PCP-directed cytoskeletal dynamics and barrier function, with disruption directly impairing germline niche maintenance in crustaceans.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

• Publication date

  2025-11-01

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.148920PMID 41218672
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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