Bile canaliculus formation in cultured HEPG2 cells.

Abstract

The results show that (i) bile canaliculi are formed de novo between two or more juxtaposed cells; (ii) canalicular-formation is accompanied by a distinct accumulation of the membrane skeletal and microvillar proteins fodrin, actin and villin at the apical surfaces of the cells, suggesting that they play an important role in bile canaliculus morphogenesis, and that (iii) apical membrane differentiation in the cells contributing to the formation of a single canaliculus is an asymmetric process.