Induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in MCF-7-SNAI1 cells leads to reorganization of adherens junctions and acquisition of migratory activity

Using DIC and confocal microscopy, changes in morphology, migratory characteristics and adherence junctions (AJs) were analyzed in the mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7-SNAI1 after activation of the EMT transcription factor SNAI1. Western blot analysis showed that after removal of tetracycline from the cell culture medium expression of SNAI1 reached its peak in 24 hours and then plateaued for 7 days. During the 7 days the cells continued to express E-cadherin; however, tangentialAJs typical for cells with stable cell-cell adhesion, changed into radial AJs. The radial AJs continued to accumulate E-cadherin during 24-72 hours after tetracycline removal. As a result of SNAI1 activation, the cells underwent epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and became migratory. On a two-dimensional substrate, cells exhibited both individual and collective migration. As the tetracycline washout period progressed, the fraction of the cells capable of migrating through migration chamber membranes increased; on the contrary, cells’ ability to invade an epithelial monolayer decreased. These results demonstrate that retaining a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype and accumulation of E-cadherin in AJs during early stages of EMT do not impede disruption of stable cell-cell adhesion and cells’ acquisition of migratory activity.