title: Rac-1 and IQGAP are potential regulators of E-cadherin-catenin interactions during murine preimplantation development.
abstract: Adherens junction formation is fundamental for compaction and trophectoderm differentiation during mammalian preimplantation development. We recently isolated an IQGAP-2 cDNA from a differential display-polymerase chain reaction screen of bovine preimplantation developmental stages. IQGAP-1 and -2 proteins mediate E-cadherin-based cell-to-cell adhesion through interactions with beta-catenin and the Rho GTPases, rac1 and cdc42. Our study demonstrates IQGAP-1,-2, rac-1 and cdc42 mRNAs are present throughout murine preimplantation development. IQGAP-1 and rac-1 protein distribution changes from predominantly plasma membrane associated to predominantly cytoplasmic as the embryo progresses through cleavage divisions and compaction to the blastocyst stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology University of Western Ontario, Ontario, London, Canada N6A 5C1.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Natale
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D016764:Cell Polarity; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins
chemical_list: C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C101203:IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1; C484416:Iqgap2 protein, mouse; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein