title: A possible role of N-cadherin in thalidomide teratogenicity.
abstract: Several experimental findings indicate that the adhesion molecule N-cadherin participates in distinct processes of embryogenesis that spatiotemporarily correlate with high sensitivity to thalidomide. Therefore, we suppose that thalidomide might interfere with N-cadherin-mediated interactions. This hypothesis is supported by protein-ligand docking studies simulating and characterizing the binding of thalidomide to N-cadherin molecules. Thalidomide was found to bind at the N-terminal domain of N-cadherin mimicking a tryptophan residue which is critical for the homodimerization of the adhesion molecule. Based on these results, we suggest that thalidomide might disturb cellular recognition and migration processes in morphogenesis by interaction with N-cadherin.
authors.affiliation: University of Leipzig, Institute of Zoology, Germany. shaus@rz.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thiele
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thormann
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauschildt
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013723:Teratogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D013723:Teratogens; D013792:Thalidomide; D014364:Tryptophan