Cell-to-cell junctions are critical for the formation of endothelial barriers, and its disorganization is required for sprouting angiogenesis. Members of the angiomotin (AMOT) family have emerged as key regulators in the control of endothelial cell (EC) junction stability and permeability. However, the underlying mechanism by which the AMOT family is regulated in ECs remains unclear. Here we report that HECW2, a novel EC ubiquitin E3 ligase, plays a critical role in stabilizing endothelial cell-to-cell junctions by regulating AMOT-like 1 (AMOTL1) stability. HECW2 physically interacts with AMOTL1 and enhances its stability via lysine 63-linked ubiquitination. HECW2 depletion in human ECs decreases AMOTL1 stability, loosening the cell-to-cell junctions and altering subcellular localization of yes-associated protein (YAP) from cytoplasm into the nucleus. Knockdown of HECW2 also results in increased angiogenic sprouting, and this effect is blocked by depletion of ANG-2, a potential target of YAP. These results demonstrate that HECW2 is a novel regulator of angiogenesis and provide new insights into the mechanisms coordinating junction stability and angiogenic activation in ECs.

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Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) is a key regulator of diverse biological processes including cell proliferation, migration, survival, and differentiation. While a role of PI3K in chondrocyte differentiation has been suggested, its precise mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Here we show that PI3K signaling can down-regulate Nkx3.2 at both mRNA and protein levels in various chondrocyte cultures in vitro. In addition, we have intriguingly found that p85β, not p85α, is specifically employed as a regulatory subunit for PI3K-mediated Nkx3.2 suppression. Furthermore, we found that regulation of Nkx3.2 by PI3K requires Rac1–PAK1, but not Akt, signaling downstream of PI3K. Finally, using embryonic limb bud cultures, ex vivo long bone cultures, and p85β knockout mice, we demonstrated that PI3K-mediated suppression of Nkx3.2 in chondrocytes plays a role in the control of cartilage hypertrophy during skeletal development in vertebrates.