Phosphorylation of serine residues <scp>S252</scp>, <scp>S268</scp>/<scp>S269</scp>, and <scp>S879</scp> in p120 catenin activates migration of presomitic mesoderm in gastrulating zebrafish embryos

We discovered that phosphorylation of serine residue S252 or S879 is required for convergent extension of zebrafish embryos, since rescue occurred only when these residues were mutated to glutamic acid. In addition, the phosphorylation of either S268 or S269 is required, not both, consistent with the presence of only a single one of these residues in two isoforms of zebrafish and Xenopus laevis. In summary, phosphorylation of multiple serine and threonine residues of p120 catenin activates migration of presomitic mesoderm of zebrafish embryos facilitating elongation of the dorsal axis.