title: Taxol reduces cytosolic E-cadherin and beta-catenin levels in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line TW-039: cross-talk between the microtubule- and actin-based cytoskeletons.
abstract: Taxol affects microtubule dynamics by promoting microtubule assembly. To obtain a better insight into possible cross-talk between the microtubule- and actin-based cytoskeletons, we studied the short-term effects of Taxol treatment on the expression of actin and the E-cadherin/catenin complex in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line TW-039 using immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and immunoblotting methods. Morphologic changes in actin filaments, including ventral actin clumps and perijunctional actin blebs, were seen at Taxol concentrations > or =1 microM. Levels of detergent-soluble E-cadherin fell to 53% or 58% compared to controls in cells treated, respectively, with 1 or 5 microM Taxol, while levels of detergent-soluble beta-catenin fell to 76% or 74%. Levels of the detergent-soluble pool of alpha- and gamma-catenin and the detergent-insoluble pool of the E-cadherin/catenin complex were unchanged by Taxol treatment and no significant difference was seen in the levels of adenomatous polyposis coli or glycogen synthase-3beta or tyrosine phosphorylation patterns. These results suggest that modulation of microtubule dynamics by Taxol may have effects on the expression of actin and the cytosolic E-cadherin and beta-catenin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through pathways not involving the phosphorylation of beta-catenin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D014443:Tyrosine; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D017239:Paclitaxel