A Scribble-E-cadherin complex controls daughter cell patterning by multiple mechanisms

The fate of the two daughter cells is intimately connected to their positioning, which is in turn regulated by cell junction remodelling and orientation of the mitotic spindle. How multiple cues are integrated to dictate the ultimate patterning of daughters is not clear. Here, we identify novel mechanisms of regulation of daughter positioning in single MCF10A cells. The polarity protein, Scribble, links E-cadherin to NuMA and Arp2/3 signalling for sequential roles in daughter positioning. First Scribble transmits cues from E-cadherin localised in retraction fibres to control orientation of the mitotic spindle. Second, Scribble re-locates to the junction between the two daughters to allow a new E-cadherin-based-interface to form between them, influencing the width of the nascent daughter-daughter junction, generation of filopodia and subsequent cell patterning. Thus, E-cadherin and Scribble dynamically relocate to different intracellular sites during cell division to orient the mitotic spindle and control placement of the daughter cells after cell division.