A Key Cytoskeletal Regulator of Ubiquitination Amplifies TGFβ Signaling during Mouse Developmental Vascular Patterning
Vascular development involves de novo formation of a capillary plexus, which is then pruned and remodeled by angiogenic events. Cytoskeletal remodeling and directional endothelial migration are essential for developmental and pathological angiogenesis. Smad-dependent TGF{beta} signaling controls vascular patterning and is negatively regulated by microtubules. Here we show that a positive regulator of TGF{beta} signaling is essential for developmental vascular patterning and microtubule stability. Rudhira/BCAS3 is known to bind microtubules and to play a nodal role in cytoskeletal remodeling and directional endothelial cell (EC) migration in vitro. We demonstrate that the molecular and cellular function of Rudhira is deployed at critical steps in vascular patterning. We generated the first floxed mice for rudhira and find that global or endothelial knockout of rudhira results in mid-gestation lethality due to aberrant embryonic and extra-embryonic vessel patterning and defective cardiac morphogenesis. Rudhira null yolk sac ECs show random and retarded migration. Yolk sac transcriptome analysis revealed key mediators of angiogenic processes and TGF{beta} receptor signaling were perturbed in rudhira null mutants. Molecular and biochemical analyses showed that rudhira depletion reduced microtubule stability but increased expression of pathway inhibitors leading to high levels of SMAD2/3 ubiquitination and reduced activation. These effects were not rescued by exogenous TGF{beta}. However, TGF{beta} treatment of wild type ECs increased Rudhira expression. Further, exogenous Rudhira, which promotes directional cell migration, caused increased SMAD2/3 nuclear translocation and reduced inhibitor levels. Therefore, we propose that Rudhira and TGF{beta} signaling are mutually dependent. Rudhira has a dual function in promoting TGF{beta} signaling, possibly by sequestering microtubules and simultaneously preventing SMAD2/3 ubiquitination to permit EC migration and vascular patterning. TGF{beta} signaling and aberrant human Rudhira (Breast Cancer Amplified Sequence 3, BCAS3) expression are both associated with tumour metastasis. Our study identifies a cytoskeletal, cell type-specific modulator of TGF{beta} signaling important in development and cancer.