title: Expression of cadherin-catenin complexes in human leukemia cell lines.
abstract: Cadherins are Ca2(+)-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules, and are involved in the formation and maintenance of the histo-architecture. Using cultured human leukemia cell lines (adult T cell leukemia and thymus-derived lymphoma cell lines), we obtained evidence that cadherins and catenins are expressed in these cell lines but not in normal leukocytes. Immunoblot analysis of cells using a pan-cadherin serum, directed against the conserved carboxyl-terminus of cadherins, revealed a major band of 130 kDa and a minor one of 135 kDa. The 130 kDa cadherin was also recognized by anti-N-cadherin antibodies. A human N-cadherin cDNA probe hybridized to a 4.3 kb mRNA isolated from cells immunologically positive for N-cadherin. Sequencing of the cDNA fragments isolated from the cells revealed a N-cadherin sequence. Cell surface expression of N-cadherin was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence staining of the cells. Immunoblot and Northern blot analyses also revealed the presence of alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and gamma-catenin (plakoglobin) in these cell lines. Immunoprecipitation with anti-N-cadherin antibodies and subsequent immunoblot analysis with anti-catenin antibodies revealed that N-cadherin is associated with alpha- and beta-catenins, a prerequisite for cadherins to be functional. These results suggest an important role of the cadherin-catenin complexes in the behavior of the leukemia cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtsubo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozawa
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015820:Cadherins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002118:Calcium