De novo E-cadherin/catenin complex formation controls basal epithelial mechanics and force transmission for apoptotic cell clearance.

De novo E-cadherin/catenin complex formation at the basal epithelial surface enables force transmission and efficient apoptotic cell clearance in zebrafish and mice.

• Why it matters: Understanding how epithelia maintain tissue integrity while clearing apoptotic cells is crucial for insights into development, homeostasis, and inflammation, yet the mechanisms remain unclear.
• What they did: Using live in vivo imaging and targeted perturbations, the study identified a dynamic assembly of E-cadherin/catenin complexes at the basal surface, revealing their roles in force transmission and Myosin II regulation during phagocytosis.
• The result: The findings demonstrate that E-cadherin/catenin complexes act as mechano-regulators at the phagocytic synapse, enabling epithelial cells to clear apoptotic cells efficiently without compromising tissue cohesion.