Hemicentin 2 and Fibulin 1 are required for epidermal-dermal junction formation and fin mesenchymal cell migration during zebrafish development

► First analysis of Hmcn2 function in vertebrates. ► Hmcn2 acts in partial functional redundancy with Fibulin 1. ► Hmcn2/Fbln1 from internal sources regulate epidermal-dermal junction formation. ► Hmcn2/Fbln1-dependent ECM remodeling is required for mesenchymal cell migration. ► Tight interaction between Hmcn2 and Fbln1 is evolutionary highly conserved.