Regulation of the microtubular cytoskeleton by Polycystin-1 favors focal adhesions turnover to modulate cell adhesion and migration

Polycystin-1 (PC-1) is a large plasma membrane receptor, encoded by the PKD1 gene, which is mutated in most cases of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). The disease is characterized by renal cysts. The precise function of PC-1 remains elusive, although several studies suggest that it can regulate the cellular shape in response to external stimuli. We and others reported that PC-1 regulates the actin cytoskeleton and cell migration. Here we show that cells over-expressing PC-1 display enhanced adhesion rates to the substrate, while cells lacking PC-1 have a reduced capability to adhere. In search for the mechanism responsible for this new property of PC-1 we found that this receptor is able to regulate the stability of the microtubules, in addition to its capability to regulate the actin cytoskeleton. The two cytoskeletal components are acting in a coordinated fashion. Notably, we uncovered that PC-1 regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton impacts on the turnover rates of focal adhesions in migrating cells and we link all these properties to the capability of PC-1 to regulate the activation state of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK). In this study we show several new features of the PC-1 receptor in modulating microtubules and adhesion dynamics, which are essential for its capability to regulate migration.


Background
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease is a common monogenic disorder characterized by the formation of epithelial cysts in the kidney, liver and pancreas. The disease is due to mutations in two genes: the PKD1 and the PKD2 genes, mutated in 85 and 15% of cases respectively, which encode for Polycystin-1 (PC-1) and Polycystin-2 (PC-2). PC-1 is a large protein composed by a relatively short intracellular C-terminus (198aa), 11 trans-membrane domains that ensure its localization at ER and cytoplasmic membrane, and a long extracellular N-terminus (≈3000aa) [1]. The C-terminal tail likely mediates a series of signaling pathways [2,3], while the large N-terminal region contains a number of domains possibly involved in mediating protein-protein interaction and/or in sensing mechanical stimuli [4,5].
The protein localizes at cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts as well as at the primary cilium [1]; here, PC-1 is proposed to directly sense urine flow [6] and possibly mediate activation of its partner PC-2, which is a calcium channel of the TRPP family, although this model has been recently challenged [7]. Consistently with the localization at cell-cell junctions it has been shown that Polycystin-1 is involved in cell-cell adhesion dynamics [8,9]. Finally, at the cell-matrix interface PC-1 has been proposed to play a role in cell-substrate adhesion [10] and the short intracellular C-tail of PC-1 has been previously localized into Focal Adhesions (FA) [2]. However, the ability of PC-1 to mediate and control cell adhesion to the substrate has never been investigated in detail, although its role in this context has been one of the first functions proposed for this receptor, and suggested to play a role in ADPKD phenotype [10,11].
The capability of cells to adhere to the substrate is fundamental for many cell biological processes, including key aspects during embryonic development. Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix is a highly dynamic and tightly regulated process [12]. At the front edge of a migrating cell the formation and maturation of multi-protein focal adhesions provide the basis for setting the tension to propel the cell forward. At the cell rear, instead, the disassembly of the FAs mediated by a microtubule-guided process allows free cell movement. Each of these steps is regulated by several proteins, although details of the mechanisms remain elusive. Among all, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an important player in these processes [13]: FAK−/− fibroblasts display defective cell migration and an accumulation of immature focal contacts [14,15]. Indeed, FAK directly interacts with adhesion components such as integrins, and phosphorylates paxillin, a fundamental component of focal complexes [16]; overexpression of a mutated form of paxillin which cannot be phosphorylated by FAK prevents the turnover of focal contacts and cell motility [17].
Interestingly, several studies in the past from our and other groups have implicated a role for PC-1 in regulation of different aspects of the migratory process [2,9,[18][19][20][21]. Indeed Polycystin-1 induces actin cytoskeleton rearrangements and protrusion at the cell edge in wound healing assays, and it also favors the dynamic of cell-cell adhesion, promoting β-catenin turnover [9] in epithelial cells. A dual role for Polycystin-1 in regulation of cell migration has been proposed: PC-1 is able to regulate both the rate of cell movement as well as the orientation of cells during migration [9,18].
Here we report a series of novel observations on the role of PC-1 in cell migration. We report that PC-1 is able to regulate the microtubule stability and dynamics in addition to the actin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, we report that the capability of PC-1 to influence the microtubule cytoskeleton results in a dynamic regulation of focal adhesion formation and in an enhanced adhesion to the substrate. Interestingly, we show that all these effects of PC-1 depend on the activity of FAK and are important for regulation of cell migratory rates. Of interest, we show that the actin cytoskeleton is not essential in PC-1 mediated cell orientation during migration, a process in which the dynamic regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton is instead essential.

Polycystin-1 regulates microtubule stability
We have previously reported that Polycystin-1 regulates both the rates of cell migration and front-rear polarity of migrating cells in MDCK epithelial cells and in fibroblasts [9,18]. Actin and microtubule cytoskeletons are directly involved in extending new protrusions in the direction of migration and in generating the propelling force for cell movement. PC-1 overexpression has been reported to induce actin protrusion [9,18]. Therefore, we carefully analyzed actin filaments and microtubules by immunofluorescence staining using phalloidin and an anti-α-tubulin antibody in cellular models of gain or loss-of-function of PC-1 [9,18]. We analyzed cells in wound-healing assays, in which a migration stimulus is generated by scratching the cell monolayer with a pipette tip. 1 hour after wounding, when the migration involves mainly the first row of cells facing the wound, a set of previously described MDCK cells carrying overexpression of PC-1 (MDCK PKD1Zeo ) [22] reveals the presence of actin protrusions and elongated microtubules, while control MDCK cells (MDCK Zeo ) have a strong actin staining at the cell-cell junctions and randomly oriented microtubules ( Figure 1A and B). Conversely, fibroblasts carrying null alleles of the Pkd1 gene (Pkd1 −/− ) [18] display defective actin and microtubule organizations compared to Pkd1 +/+ control cells ( Figure 1B and D). To test if the absence of PC-1 is linked with defective actin and microtubular protrusions in the setting of epithelial cells, we generated a set of mIMCD cells carrying stable silencing of the Pkd1 gene, generating mIMCD shPkd1 clones carrying a 60 to 70% downregulation of PC-1 (C12 and C16, Figure 1C and Additional file 1) as compared to parental mIMCD cells or controls infected with a scrambled shRNA (mIMCD shCtrl , clones M3 and M4) ( Figure 1C and Additional file 1). Wound healing assays followed by immunofluorescence revealed that mIMCD shCtrl cells tend to have more actin and microtubule-based protrusions at the leading edge as compared to mIMCD shPkd1 cells ( Figure 1D).
Since microtubule elongation in oriented cell migration correlates with the presence of persistent microtubules, we hypothesized that PC-1 can influence the rate of microtubule stabilization. To formally test this hypothesis we performed nocodazole resistance assays, which consist in treating living cells with nocodazole (2 μM) for a short period of time, to depolymerize only the newly formed microtubules, followed by fixation and tubulin immunostaining. Quantification revealed that MDCK PKD1Zeo cells have increased resistance to nocodazole, when compared to control clones ( Figure 1E). In line with this, we found that Pkd1 −/− fibroblasts, show decreased stabilization of the cytoskeleton, as compared to wild-type controls ( Figure 1F). We conclude from these studies that PC-1 regulates the microtubules in addition to the microfilaments.
Both the microtubule and the actin cytoskeletons are involved in PKD1-dependent cell migration We next aimed at dissecting the relative role of the two cytoskeleton components (microtubules and microfilaments) Figure 1 Polycystin-1 levels correlate with cytoskeleton protrusions formation in wound-healing assay and microtubules stabilization. (A) MDCK Zeo (clone F6) and MDCK PKD1Zeo (clone 68) cells were subjected to wound healing, allowed to migrate for one hour and stained with α-tubulin antibodies (white/red), FITC-phalloidin (white/green) and DAPI staining (blue). Full images and zoom-in of the boxed areas show that MDCK PKD1Zeo cells have both actin filaments and microtubules elongated towards the wound. Bar: 20 μm. (B) Western blot analysis of PC-1 levels using LRR antibody in fibroblasts Pkd1 +/+ and Pkd1 −/− , and in control MDCK Zeo (clone F2, F6) and PKD1-overexpressing MDCK PKD1Zeo (clone 36, 68, G3) epithelial cells. (C) Western blot analysis using PC-1 LRR antibody of mIMCD cells: two clones isolated from shScrambled-infected (M3 and M4) and two shPkd1-infected (C12 and C16). (D) Pkd1 +/+ and Pkd1 −/− fibroblasts, as well as mIMCD shCtrl and mIMCD shPkd1 , were subjected to wound, allowed to migrate for one hour and stained with DAPI (blue) and FITC-phalloidin (white) or α-tubulin antibodies (white). Images show defective protrusions in the two cytoskeletons in Pkd1 −/− and mIMCD shPkd1 cells, compared to their respective controls. Bar: 40 μm. (E) Quantification of nocodazole resistance assay in MDCK cells, revealing that MDCK PKD1Zeo cells have more persistent microtubules compared to MDCK Zeo cells. The graph is representative of three independent experiments; averages and SD are shown. Statistical analysis: ANOVA; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, relative to both control clones (F2 and F6). (F) Quantification of nocodazole resistance assay in fibroblasts, revealing that Pkd1 −/− cells have less persistent microtubules compared to Pkd1 +/+ cells. The graph is representative of three independent experiments; averages and SD are shown. Statistical analysis: T-test; ****p < 0.0001.
in PC-1-mediated cell migration. To this end, we used two different assays: Boyden chambers assay to assess cell motility and evaluation of Golgi re-orientation in wound-healing assay to quantify cell orientation during migration. Importantly, in line with our published data, the newly generated mIMCD shPkd1 cells display both impairment of cell migration in Boyden chambers ( Figure 2A) and in front-rear polarity ( Figure 2B). Treatment in the presence of CytochalasinD (5 μM) and LatrunculinA (5 μM), both able to interfere with the actin cytoskeleton, hindered PKD1-dependent cell migration in Boyden chamber assays in MDCK PKD1Zeo cells and in Pkd1 +/+ fibroblasts, reducing their motility capabilities down to the levels of MDCK Zeo controls and Pkd1 −/− fibroblasts ( Figure 2C). On the contrary, neither of the two toxins had effects on the establishment of front-rear polarity ( Figure 2D, E and F). Staining of the actin cytoskeleton revealed that both drugs are however able to disrupt the actin filaments, excluding the possibility that the drugs did not effectively act on the actin cytoskeleton ( Figure 2D). In previous studies we have shown that the rearrangements in the actin cytoskeleton observed upon over-expression of PC-1 are mediated by the PI-3 kinase cascade. In line with these previous data, we found that the PI-3 kinase inhibitors LY294002 (20 μM) and wortmannin (250nM) are able to inhibit cell migration in Boyden chamber assays, but had no effect on front-rear polarity establishment (Additional file 1), similarly to the actin depolymerizing drugs.
Next, we used nocodazole which is able to interfere with the nascent microtubules when used at nanomolar concentrations (150nM), as well as taxol (1 μM), which instead prevents disassembly of the already polymerized tubulin filaments. Both these drugs were able to strongly interfere with the capability of cells to move across the membrane in Boyden chamber assays ( Figure 2G) and to achieve front-rear polarity ( Figure 2H, I and L). We conclude that PC-1 regulates both the actin and the microtubules cytoskeletons, but while PC-1 mediated cell motility depends on both the actin and the microtubular cytoskeleton, PC-1-induced front-rear polarity exclusively depends on the latter.

Polycystin-1 regulates cell adhesion and nascent focal adhesions
During the course of our experiments we noticed that MDCK PKD1Zeo cells appeared to have a different capability to adhere to the substrate. To formally test if PC-1 can indeed modulate the rate of cell adhesion to the substrate, we performed a colorimetric adhesion assay: briefly, 15 minutes after plating, cells are washed with fresh medium so that all non-adherent cells are removed, while cells that have adhered are fixed, colored and counted. We found that compared to control MDCK Zeo clones, a higher proportion of MDCK PKD1Zeo cells still adhere to the plate after the washout ( Figure 3A). Colorimetric quantification showed that adhesion is significantly higher in MDCK PKD1Zeo clones compared to controls ( Figure 3B and C). Consistently with these data, adhesion assays performed on fibroblasts uncovered that Pkd1 −/− and mIMCD shPkd1 cells have a reduced capability to adhere to the substrate, compared to their respective controls ( Figure 3D and E). The difference in adhesiveness is no longer statistically significant only 3 hours after plating in MEFs, while 6 hours after plating in MDCK and mIMCD cells ( Figure 3C, D and E), indicating that PC-1 controls the early steps of cell adhesion. Of interest, interfering with the actin cytoskeleton abolished PC-1 effects on adhesion ( Figure 3F).
We next asked if the difference in adhesiveness is indeed due to a different capability to assemble focal adhesions. To test this, we analyzed by immunofluorescence cells at early time points after plating (60 minutes), when they are initially spreading on fibronectin matrix. In control MDCK cells, paxillin localizes mainly at the cell periphery and only forms relatively small clusters, very distant from one another. On the contrary, MDCK PKD1Zeo cells form many more focal adhesions at the cell periphery, as well as some clusters in the body ( Figure 3G). In both cell lines, focal adhesions indeed localize on the basal side of the cell, mediating the contact with the extracellular matrix as expected (Additional file 1).
These data define a role for Polycystin-1 in regulating focal adhesions during the first phases of cell adhesion, explaining the capability to modulate adhesion to the substrate.

Polycystin-1 regulates focal adhesions during cell migration
We next investigated the role of PC-1 on focal adhesion distribution during cell migration. First, we performed immunofluorescence analysis of MDCK clones migrating as single cells, 5 hours after plating on fibronectin. Control MDCK Zeo cells show a round non-polarized shape with large focal adhesions mostly localized at the peripheral actin bundles ( Figure 4A). On the contrary, MDCK PKD1Zeo clones acquire a polarized shape and have a higher number of focal adhesions of different sizes: the larger focal adhesions are present in the central-rear part of the cell body, while the smaller ones are localized at the actin protrusions of the front edge ( Figure 4A). The same difference in paxillin pattern between control and PKD1 overexpressing cells is also visible at later time points of migration ( Figure 4B). This effect is not correlated with gross clustering differences of focal adhesions, that appear to be correctly formed at the very basal site of the cell in all the clones ( Figure 4B). Consistently with these observations in MDCK cells, Pkd1 −/− fibroblasts have predominantly bigger focal adhesions randomly localized, while in wild-type fibroblast paxillin staining reflects the single cell migration pattern (Additional file 1).
Next, we analyzed focal adhesions distribution during collective cell migration, in wound healing assays [9]. After 3 hours from wounding, MDCK control clones present a low number of small focal adhesions, localized near the cell edge but not directly at the tips ( Figure 4C and Additional file 1); on the contrary, in MDCK PKD1Zeo paxillin staining localizes at the very end of the actin protrusion tips ( Figure 4C and Additional file 1). Consistently, focal adhesions at the leading edge of control mIMCD shCtrl cells are oriented in the direction of the wound, while Pkd1 silenced mIMCD shPkd1 cells show large focal adhesions parallel to the wound ( Figure 4D). From these data we conclude that during the process of single cell and collective migration PC-1 is involved in regulating focal adhesion distribution.

Polycystin-1 regulates focal adhesions turnover
The data above suggest that PC-1 may increase the dynamic of focal adhesion formation.
To test this hypothesis we first analyzed focal adhesion disassembly with nocodazole washout assays [23]. Briefly, nocodazole (10 μM) is added to the medium of serum-starved cells to completely depolymerize microtubules, and then washed out with fresh serum-starvation medium to allow microtubule regrowth; as microtubules start to target focal adhesion these are disassembled. The staining of paxillin and the related quantification showed that in MDCK PKD1Zeo cells the majority of focal adhesions are disassembled 15 minutes after nocodazole washout; on the contrary, controls do not lose focal adhesion structures in these conditions ( Figure 5A; Additional file 1). This difference is not secondary to a difference in microtubule depolymerization: indeed, in both clones, microtubules are completely depolymerized by nocodazole treatment and start to reform with the same timing, 15 minutes after nocodazole washout (Additional file 1); focal adhesions are completely reformed 2 hours later ( Figure 5A). Next, we looked at the loss-of-function cellular systems. Similar analysis in MEFs revealed that Pkd1 −/− cells maintain their paxillin staining 15 minutes after nocodazole washout, while Pkd +/+ cells have lost their focal adhesion structures ( Figure 5B and Additional file 1).
To more precisely assess if PC-1 presence or absence correlates with the rate of Focal Adhesions turnover, we tested the time required for a full turnover of paxillin using Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) on a transfected GFP-tagged paxillin molecule These data demonstrate that Polycystin-1 positively regulates focal adhesion disassembly in the experimental conditions used and suggest that the capability of PC-1 to regulate the microtubule cytoskeleton stability is likely involved in regulation of the turnover of focal adhesions, ultimately mediating cell adhesion and migration.

Focal adhesion kinase is important for PKD1-dependent cell migration and adhesion
A fundamental effector of focal adhesion signaling is Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), whose activity is marked by its phosphorylation in Tyr397 [14,25]. We analyzed the activity of focal adhesion kinase in our cellular models. We first considered single cell migration conditions, and lysed cells plated overnight at low cell density (50%). In line with the effects on focal adhesions described above, western blot analysis showed that MDCK PKD1Zeo have higher levels of Tyr397-phosphorylated FAK compared to control cells and that subconfluent Pkd1 −/− cells have lower phosphorylation levels of FAK than Pkd1 +/+ ( Figure 6A). We also tested FAK phosphorylation levels in conditions of collective cell migration, analyzing confluent cells in response to wound. Also in these conditions, MDCK PKD1Zeo cells have enhanced phospho-FAK levels as compared to controls, which is visible prior to challenging with the wound and is maintained upon wounding at all the time points analyzed ( Figure 6B). These results show that in different migration conditions, Polycystin-1 expression correlates with higher activation of FAK.
Next, to assess if differences in FAK phosphorylation can also be observed in the initial phases of cell adhesion, we serum-starved cells and plated them on fibronectin and collected them at different time points. MDCK Zeo control cells show a small increase of FAK phosphorylation after plating. However, MDCK PKD1Zeo cells display a much higher activation rate of FAK in all the time points considered ( Figure 6C). These data are consistent with the increased rates of adhesion of these cells.
To test if FAK activity is necessary for MDCK PKD1Zeo cell adhesion, we performed adhesion assays in the presence of a specific kinase inhibitor (PF-228, 10 μM) [26]. The inhibitor decreases adhesion of both MDCK PKD1Zeo clones and Pkd1 +/+ fibroblasts ( Figure 6D), suggesting that early adhesion to fibronectin mediated by PC-1 depends on this kinase. Importantly, PF-228 also had a profound effect on the capability of cells to migrate ( Figure 6E) and to achieve front-rear polarity in wound healing assays ( Figure 6F). Next, we tested if FAK inhibition also impairs PC-1 dependent increase in focal adhesion disassembly. Indeed, nocodazole washout assays performed in the presence of PF-228 inhibitor revealed that the disassembly of focal adhesion in MDCK PKD1Zeo cells is sensitive to this drug ( Figure 6G). Interestingly, PI-3 kinase does not seem to mediate the regulation of FAK phosphorylation in these conditions, as the PI-3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin does not revert PC-1 induced upregulation of FAK ( Figure 6H).

Discussion
Previous studies from our and other groups have implicated PC-1 in mediating cell migration and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton [9,18,20].
We have previously shown that PC-1 is able to regulate two distinct aspects of cell migration: cell polarity (front-rear polarity, i.e. orientation during migration) and cell motility. Pkd1 mutants display defective Golgi orientation in wound-healing assay and defects in persistent cell migration [18], defining a role for PC-1 in front-rear polarity establishment. Second, overexpression of the full length PKD1 cDNA or the only C-terminus of PC-1 protein increases cell migration rate in epithelial cells [9,21], implicating PC-1 in cell motility.
In the present study we show that PC-1 not only acts by enhancing actin cytoskeleton protrusions [9], but it also regulates both elongation and stabilization of the microtubules. We also discerned the relative involvement of the two cytoskeletal components in PC-1dependent cell migration, uncovering that cell motility requires both actin and the microtubules, while frontrear polarity depends only on the dynamics of the microtubule cytoskeleton. Interestingly, a well documented relationship between the actin and the microtubule cystoskeleton has been described in many different cellular processes, including cell migration [27]. During cell migration the actin cytoskeleton pushes the edge of the cell forward and allows for contraction and retraction of the tail. This process intimately depends on the capability of cells to assemble and disassemble focal contacts. The microtubule cytoskeleton plays a key role in this last process by facilitating exocytosis and endocytosis of key adhesion molecules. Thus, it is not surprising that we find in this study that the coordination of the two types of cytoskeletons is crucial for PC-1 induced migration.
Furthermore, we uncover an essential function of PC-1 in modulating the adhesive properties of cells to the substrate. This property is linked to PC-1 ability to regulate the dynamic formation of FAs, although this must be a fine regulation, since cells lacking the Pkd1 gene do finally form focal adhesions properly. In addition, during the initial phases of cell adhesion, the PC-1-deficient cells display lower focal adhesion number and higher heterogeneity, further suggesting that PC-1 regulates focal adhesion dynamics and localization. The role of cell adhesion dynamics in cell migration is well recognized. Adhesion to the substrate at the front of the cell generates the tension forces required to propel the cell forward, whereas disassembly of focal adhesions at the cell rear allows retraction of the tail [28]. Importantly, these properties must be balanced within the cell since a misbalance towards focal adhesions formation and maturation can prevent cell motility, while an excessive disassembly might decrease the proper intracellular tension. In migrating cells, PKD1 overexpression increases focal contacts at the cell protrusive edge and the size of focal adhesions in the tail. We further observed that PC-1 deficient cells show defective focal adhesions disassembly, which explain the presence of large focal adhesions in these cells. Indeed, detailed analysis using Fluorescent Recovery after Photobleaching (FRAP) in cells transfected with a GFPpaxillin molecule as previously described [24], evidenced that PC-1 can influence the rate of focal adhesions turnover. In particular, cells carrying over-expression of PC-1 have an enhanced turnover, while cells lacking PC-1 have a reduced turnover.
The role of PC-1 that we observe in favoring focal adhesion turnover is most likely exerted by Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) activity. FAK is a master regulator of adhesion; in particular, it appears to be involved mostly in focal adhesion dynamic and disassembly, more than in their formation or maturation [13]. Consistently, FAK activation is higher in PKD1 overexpressing cells, and is lower in Pkd1 mutants. Furthermore, its inhibition decreases PC-1-dependent focal adhesion disassembly and is able to revert PC-1 capability to regulate cell migration acting both on the motility and on front-rear polarity. Our data taken together suggest that FAK might act quite upstream in PC-1-mediated cell migration. Moreover, in line with our previously reported data, while inhibitors of PI-3 kinase are able to revert cell motility, but not front-rear polarity, FAK inhibitors act at both levels. In addition the PC-1 mediated upregulation of the PI-3 kinase/Akt signaling pathway that we have previously described [29] is inhibited by FAK inhibitors, while PI-3kinase inhibitors are unable to revert FAK upregulation. These data taken together suggest that FAK acts upstream of PI-3 kinase/ Akt in the PC-1 regulated pathway, although further studies will be required to better understand the molecular details of this regulation.

Conclusions
In this study we have uncovered a previously unrecognized, though hypothesized, role for PC-1 in regulating cell adhesion and the dynamics of focal adhesion contacts via its capability to regulate the microtubule cytoskeleton. Furthermore, we show that PC-1 can modulate the activity of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to exert its function on cell adhesion and migration.
One important question that rises from our study is in which physiological context this role of PC-1 might be important? While additional studies will be necessary to answer this question, here we speculate that this might be relevant during renal development. We have recently shown that during development of the kidney, the morphogenesis of renal tubules is achieved by convergent extension-like movements which are impaired in Pkd1 mutant tubules [18,30,31]. We speculate here that the cellular movements required during this process might require that PC-1 is able to properly regulate the cytoskeletons and the adhesiveness of cells to the substrate for cells to achieve proper intercalation and eventually convergent extension.

Generation of murine Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells (mIMCD) silenced for Pkd1
Pre-screening of shRNAs targeting murine Pkd1 was performed as follow: 500,000 Pkd1 HA/HA [32] MEFs were seeded onto p100 dish and after 24 h transduced with viral vectors expressing shRNA encoding scrambled (shScr) sequences (MISSION TRC2 Control Transduction Particle puro Non-Target shRNA 3,8x10 6 TU/ml SHC202V from SIGMA) or 6 different Pkd1-targeting shRNA (shPkd1 a-e) sequences (MiSSION Lentiviral Transduction Particles SHCLNV from SIGMA, batch A TRCN0000302260 4,0x10 7 TU/ml, batch B TRCN000030 4611 3,2x10 7 TU/ml, batch C TRCN0000304612 1,8x10 7 TU/ml, batch D TRCN0000304664 1,9x10 7 TU/ml batch E TRCN0000331808 3,1x10 7 TU/ml) using MOI (Multiplicity of infection) 1. 48 h after transduction cells were collected, lysed and analyzed by SDS-PAGE on a 3-8% gradient gels (Invitrogen) before transfer onto a PVDF membrane (Millipore). Membranes were probed with primary : anti-HA (Roche) and anti-tubulin (Sigma) antibodies. Pre-screening of shRNAs targeting murine Pkd1, identified shPkd1C as the most efficient (Additional file 1). For stable transduction, 200,000 murine Inner Medullary Collecting duct (mIMCD) cells were seeded into 6-well plate and grown in DMEM (Invitrogen), supplemented with 10% v/v Fetal Calf Serum and 1:100 Penicillin 5000 U/ml/ 5000 μg/ml Streptomycin solution (Invitrogen). mIMCD cells were transduced with viral vectors expressing shRNA encoding scrambled sequences (shScr) or the selected Pkd1-targeting shRNA sequence (shPkd1C) under puromycin selection, using MOI (Multiplicity of infection) 2 or 4 (Additional file 1). 48 h after transduction, cells were splitted and medium containing 1 μg/ml puromycin (Invitrogen) was added. Untransduced cells were treated with the same puromycin concentration to establish the maximal toxicity of puromycin. After 5 days no untransduced cells survived, and selection of puromycin resistant cells was concluded. Resistant cells were analyzed for PC-1 expression levels as above. Resistant cells treated with MOI 4 and diluted 9:10 were chosen for subcloning. For subcloning 1000 cells were seeded into a p100 dish and 18 clones for shPkd1C and 6 clones for shScr were selected and picked. At confluency cells were analyzed for PC-1 expression levels. Two clones carrying high silencing levels (C12 and C16) and two control clones (M3 and M4) were selected for further use ( Figure 1C).

Immunofluorescence
Cells plated on coverslips at low confluence or in wound-healing assay (see below) were fixed in 4% PFA-PBS or methanol for 10 min, permeabilized with 0.2% or 0.5% Triton X-100-PBS (for MEF or MDCK, respectively) and blocked with 3% BSA-PBS. Primary antibodies were diluted in blocking solution and incubated for 1 h at RT or ON at 4°C; subsequently, secondary antibodies or conjugated-antibodies were diluted in blocking solution and incubated for 1 h at RT; after, DAPI-PBS solution was addes for 10 min at RT; coverslips were mounted with Mowiol. Digital images of representative fields were taken with Zeiss Axiophot or UltraView spinning disk confocal (PerkinElmer) microscope. Confocal Z-stacks were acquired and reconstructed with Volocity software.

Migration assay
The experiment was performed as previously described [9]. Briefly, after filling the lower chamber of Boyden chambers with DMEM (with or without inhibitors), fibronectin-coated polycarbonate 8 μm-pore filters (Costar, Acton) were inserted, and 50000 cells in DMEM were added above, in the upper chamber; after 3 h (for fibroblasts) or O/N (MDCK/mIMCD) incubation cells on the upper surface of the filter were mechanically removed, while cells that pass to the bottom surface were fixed with ethanol, stained with Giemsa dye (Sigma, GS) and counted in 10 random fields per filter; fields have an approximate diameter of 0.5 mm. Within the experiment, each condition was plated in triplicate, and at least three independent experiments with the same conditions were performed.

Wound-healing assay
The experiment was performed as previously described [9,18]. Briefly, cells were grown as high-density monolayers, scratched with a pipette tip, and after three washes to remove detached cells, allowed to migrate for the indicated time. For biochemical analysis: cells were grown on dishes at least O/N, multiple scratches in two perpendicular directions were performed, and after indicated time cells were lysed with 1% Triton X-100-lysis buffer. For immunofluorescences: cells were grown on coverslips in multiwells, 3-5 scratches were performed, and after indicated times cells were fixed in 4% PAF-PBS or methanol for immunofluorescence. For front-rear polarity quantification: cells were stained by immunofluorescence for Golgi and nucleus and front-rear polarized cells were counted: cells were considered polarized if they have re-positioned Golgi apparatus in front of the nucleus in a 120°angle towards the wound [18]. Each condition was plates in triplicate, and 3 groups of at least 100 cells were counted.

Colorimetric adhesion assay
Cells were plated at a density of 60-70% and the day after resuspended and plated in 96 wells plates (70,000 MDCK cells/well; 100,000 MEF/mIMCD cells/well), previously coated with 1 μg/ml fibronectin in PBS for 1 h and blocked with 1% BSA-PBS 30 min; cells were forced to reach the bottom by spinning the plate (time 0). At different indicated times (10 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h), a wash with warm DMEM removed non-adherent cells, while remaining cells were fixed and colored with 0.5% crystal violet-20% methanol-H 2 O. Unbound dye was well washed and plate was left to dry hair. Equal amount of 1% SDS-H 2 O was added to the wells, and the concentration of the dye in the wells (proportional to the protein content, so to cell number) was read at the absorbance of 570 nm. Because PC-1 regulates cell size [33], we normalized each value with the absorbance value of unwashed cells 6 h after plating, representing 100% plated cells. Also, to each value blank/water absorbance value was substracted. Each condition was plated in triplicate.

Nocodazole resistance assay
Cells were plated at low density and treated the day after with 2 μM nocodazole (45 min for MDCK cells, 30 min for MEF cells) to induce depolymerization of non-stable microtubules. After 3 minutes extraction in Triton X-100-PBS (0.2% for MDCK and mIMCD, 0.1% for MEF cells) at RT to remove monomeric tubulin, cells were fixed and immunofluorescence was performed for αtubulin. Cells that remained with microtubule filaments were counted.

Nocodazole washout assay
The experiment was performed as previously described [33]. Cells were plated at low confluence on fibronectincoated coverslips and treated the day after with 10 μM nocodazole for 4 h to induce complete depolymerization of microtubules. Nocodazole was washed and fresh medium (with or without inhibitors) was added (time 0). At different indicated time (15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h) cells were fixed with 4% PFA-PBS, and immunofluorescence for actin, tubulin and paxillin was performed. Cells containing focal adhesion (with at least 10 visible focal adhesions) were counted; at least 100 cells for every condition were counted.
Cells were placed in an environmental microscope incubator (OKOLab) set to 37°C and 5% CO 2 perfusion. All images were acquired through a 60× oil immersion objective (Nikon Plan Apo VC, NA 1.4). Cells were transiently transfected, 48 hours before FRAP, with GFP-paxillin and plated on glass 24 hours before imaging. From 2 to 5 bleach regions, corresponding to selected focal adhesions, with a size of 4 × 2 μm were positioned on cells.