p120ctn Binds to the Membrane-proximal Region of the E-cadherin Cytoplasmic Domain and Is Involved in Modulation of Adhesion Activity
Year: 1999
Type: article
Abstract: Cadherins are transmembrane glycoproteins involved in Ca(2+)-dependent cell-cell adhesion. Previously, we showed that the conserved membrane-proximal region of the E-cadherin cytoplasmic domain negatively regulates adhesion activity. In this report, we provide several lines of evidence that p120(ctn) is involved in this negative regulation. p120(ctn) binds to the membrane-proximal region of the nonfunctional carboxyl-terminally deleted E-cadherin protein. An additional internal deletion in this region prevented the association with p120(ctn) and activated the protein, as seen in an aggregation assay. Furthermore, the nonfunctional E-cadherin can be activated through coexpression of p120(ctn) proteins with amino-terminal deletions, which eliminate several potential serine/threonine phosphorylation sites but do not affect the ability to bind to cadherins. Finally, we show that staurosporine, a kinase inhibitor, induces an increased electrophoretic mobility of p120(ctn) bound to E-cadherin polypeptides, activates the nonfunctional E-cadherin protein, and converts the wild-type E-cadherin and an E-cadherin-alpha-catenin chimeric protein from a cytochalasin D-sensitive to a cytochalasin D-insensitive state. Together, these results indicate that p120(ctn) is a modulator of E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion.
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry
Authors: Tadashi Ohkubo, Masayuki Ozawa
Institution: Kagoshima University
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology and Allergy
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,430
OpenAlex ID: W2020504648