title: Characterization of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in colorectal carcinoma cell lines.
abstract: The E-cadherin/catenin complex is a prime mediator of cell-cell adhesion. APC mutations can result in loss of beta-catenin downregulation and an accumulation of beta-catenin in the cell. Beta-CATENIN mutations can have a similar effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of beta-CATENIN and APC mutations on the expression and assembly of the E-cadherin/catenin complex. Five colorectal carcinoma cell lines with different APC and beta-CATENIN gene status were selected and mutations were confirmed. The expression of members of the E-cadherin/catenin complex was studied by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Complex assembly was investigated by immunoprecipitation. It is shown that E-cadherin and catenins are expressed in colorectal carcinoma cell lines with the predominant complex assembly being E-cadherin/beta-catenin/alpha-catenin. The subcellular distribution of the proteins is influenced by cell-cell contact, resulting in membranous localization. The expression and assembly of the E-cadherin/catenin complex does not appear to be affected by the presence of APC and or beta-CATENIN mutations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK. m.elbahrawy@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Bahrawy
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poulsom
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rowan
authors.forename: Ian T M
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.forename: Malcolm R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alison
authors.forename: S Richard
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Poulsom
authors.forename: Ian T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D017491:Genes, APC; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009154:Mutation; D011233:Precipitin Tests / Q000379:methods; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin