Cadherin/catenin complexes in murine epidermal keratinocytes: E-cadherin complexes containing either beta-catenin or plakoglobin contribute to stable cell-cell contacts.
The cadherin/catenin complexes expressed by a murine epidermal keratinocyte cell line PDV, expressing E- and P-cadherin, have been analysed using a combination of biochemical and confocal microscopy analysis. Two types of E-cadherin complexes, containing beta-catenin or plakoglobin and alpha-catenin, were detected in PDV cells as in other cell types, while P-cadherin was mainly detected in complexes containing beta-catenin and alpha-catenin in PDV and other murine epidermal keratinocytes. Biotin-labelling studies have shown that both types of E-cadherin complexes are present at the surface of confluent cells. Furthermore, confocal microscopy analysis indicated that E-cadherin/plakoglobin complexes are located in stable cell-cell contacts at the middle lateral membranes and associated with alpha-catenin and the actin cytoskeleton, with a similar distribution to that to the E-cadherin/beta-catenin complexes. In addition, E-cadherin/plakoglobin complexes not associated with alpha-catenin or the actin cytoskeleton were detected in lower planes of the lateral contacting membranes as well as E-cadherin non-associated with catenins in the more basal planes. These studies support that in murine epidermal keratinocytes both beta-catenin- and plakoglobin-containing E-cadherin complexes contribute to the maintenance of stable cell-cell contacts and suggest a differential role of the plakoglobin containing complexes in different epithelial cell types.
Lozano
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Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
Cano
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D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D002460:Cell Line; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015603:Keratinocytes; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin
C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; D015820:Cadherins; C495272:Ctnna1 protein, mouse; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin