title: Molecular cloning of an alternative human alphaE-catenin cDNA.
abstract: The cytoplasmic protein alpha-catenin plays a crucial role in E-cadherin mediated cell-cell adhesion by binding E-cadherin to the cytoskeleton via beta- or gamma-catenin and actin. Functional loss of one of these interacting components leads to decreased cell-cell adhesion, and therefore to loss of epithelial integrity. Northern analysis revealed two distinct alphaE-catenin transcripts in different cell lines, whereas apparently only one protein is expressed. Because of the biological importance of this protein we sought to molecularly characterize the differences between the two observed transcripts. cDNA cloning and sequence analysis revealed the earlier described 3.4 kb alphaE-catenin transcript and an alphaE-catenin transcript of approximately 3.8 kb. This larger transcript contains a 321 bp extension in the 3'UTR sequence, which probably arises as a result of alternative polyadenylation. Considering the presence of AU-rich sequences in the extension, it may be involved in mRNA stability.
authors.affiliation: Urology Research Laboratory, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linkels
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bussemakers
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nollet
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Roy
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schalken
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005091:Exons; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011467:Prostate; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D051178:alpha Catenin
chemical_list: C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051178:alpha Catenin