The symmetry breaking of protein distribution and cytoskeleton organization is an essential aspect for the development of apicobasal polarity. In embryonic cells this process is largely cell autonomous, while differentiated epithelial cells collectively polarize during epithelium formation. Here, we demonstrate that the de novo polarization of mature hepatocytes does not require the synchronized development of apical poles on neighbouring cells. De novo polarization at the single-cell level by mere contact with the extracellular matrix and immobilized cadherin defining a polarizing axis. The creation of these single-cell liver hemi-canaliculi allows unprecedented imaging resolution and control and over the lumenogenesis process. We show that the density and localization of cadherins along the initial cell-cell contact act as key triggers of the reorganization from lateral to apical actin cortex. The minimal cues necessary to trigger the polarization of hepatocytes enable them to develop asymmetric lumens with ectopic epithelial cells originating from the kidney, breast or colon.

中文翻译：

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仿生生态位揭示了触发单个肝细胞顶腔形成的最小提示。

蛋白质分布和细胞骨架组织的对称性破坏是apapobasal极性发展的重要方面。在胚胎细胞中，该过程在很大程度上是细胞自主的，而分化的上皮细胞在上皮形成过程中共同极化。在这里，我们证明了成熟肝细胞的从头极化不需要邻近细胞顶尖的同步发育。仅通过与细胞外基质和固定化的钙黏着蛋白接触即可确定单极化水平的从头极化。这些单细胞肝半小管的创建允许前所未有的成像分辨率和控制，以及整个管腔生成过程。我们表明，沿初始细胞-细胞接触的钙黏着蛋白的密度和定位是从侧向顶肌动蛋白皮层重组的关键触发因素。触发肝细胞极化所需的最低限度的提示使它们能够与来自肾脏，乳房或结肠的异位上皮细胞一起发展出不对称的腔。