title: C-cadherin ectodomain structure and implications for cell adhesion mechanisms.
abstract: Cadherins are transmembrane proteins that mediate adhesion between cells in the solid tissues of animals. Here we present the 3.1 angstrom resolution crystal structure of the whole, functional extracellular domain from C-cadherin, a representative "classical" cadherin. The structure suggests a molecular mechanism for adhesion between cells by classical cadherins, and it provides a new framework for understanding both cis (same cell) and trans (juxtaposed cell) cadherin interactions. The trans adhesive interface is a twofold symmetric interaction defined by a conserved tryptophan side chain at the membrane-distal end of a cadherin molecule from one cell, which inserts into a hydrophobic pocket at the membrane-distal end of a cadherin molecule from the opposing cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Titus J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Boggon
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chappuis-Flament
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gumbiner
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D016466:CHO Cells; D015820:Cadherins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D006224:Cricetinae; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D019281:Dimerization; D006031:Glycosylation; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
chemical_list: C074260:CDH3 protein, Xenopus; D015820:Cadherins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D014364:Tryptophan