title: Molecular interactions between desmosomal cadherins.
abstract: Desmocollins (Dscs) and desmogleins (Dsgs) are cell-adhesion molecules involved in the formation of desmosome cell-cell junctions and share structural similarities to classical cadherins such as E-cadherin. In order to identify and provide quantitative information on the types of protein-protein interactions displayed by the type 2 isoforms and investigate the role of Ca(2+) in this process, we have developed an Escherichia coli expression system to generate recombinant proteins containing the first two extracellular domains, namely Dsg2(1-2) and Dsc2(1-2). Analytical ultracentrifugation, chemical cross-linking, CD, fluorescence and BIAcore have been used to provide the first direct evidence of Ca(2+) binding to desmosomal cadherins. These studies suggest that Dsc2(1-2) not only exhibits homophilic interactions in solution, but can also form heterophilic interactions with Dsg2(1-2). The latter, on the other hand, shows much weaker homophilic association. Our results further demonstrate that heterophilic interactions are Ca(2+)-dependent, whereas the Ca(2+)-dependence of homophilic association is less clear. Our data indicate that the functional properties of Dsc2(1-2) are more similar to those of classical cadherins, consistent with the observation that Dsc shares a higher level of sequence homology with classical cadherins than does Dsg. In addition to corroborating the conclusions of previously reported transfection studies which suggest the formation of lateral heterodimers and homodimers, our results also provide direct quantitative information on the strength of these interactions which are essential for understanding the adhesion mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Membrane Biology, The National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
authors.forename: Shabih-e-Hassnain
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trinnaman
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: Anthony I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Magee
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D015820:Cadherins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D051187:Desmocollins; D051301:Desmoglein 2; D051182:Desmogleins; D051180:Desmoplakins; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; C495314:DSG2 protein, human; D051187:Desmocollins; D051301:Desmoglein 2; D051182:Desmogleins; D051180:Desmoplakins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002118:Calcium