Rudhira/BCAS3 couples microtubules and intermediate filaments to promote cell migration for angiogenic remodeling

Blood vessel formation requires endothelial cell (EC) migration that depends on dynamic remodeling of the cytoskeleton. Rudhira/Breast Carcinoma Amplified Sequence 3 (BCAS3) is a cytoskeletal protein essential for EC migration and sprouting angiogenesis during mouse development and implicated in metastatic disease. Here, we report that Rudhira mediates cytoskeleton organization and dynamics during EC migration. Rudhira binds to both microtubules and Vimentin intermediate filaments (IFs) and stabilizes microtubules. Rudhira depletion impairs cytoskeletal crosstalk, microtubule stability and hence focal adhesion disassembly. The BCAS3 domain of Rudhira is necessary and sufficient for microtubule-IF crosslinking and cell migration. Pharmacologically restoring microtubule stability rescues gross cytoskeleton organization and angiogenic sprouting in Rudhira depleted cells. Our study identifies the novel and essential role of Rudhira in cytoskeletal crosstalk and assigns function to the conserved BCAS3 domain. Targeting Rudhira could allow tissue-restricted cytoskeleton modulation to control cell migration and angiogenesis in development and disease.