title: Inducible expression of p120Cas1B isoform corroborates the role for p120-catenin as a positive regulator of E-cadherin function in intestinal cancer cells.
abstract: Over the past decade, the exact function of p120-catenin in regulation of E-cadherin/catenins complex has remained particularly controversial. We have previously reported that E-cadherin-mediated adhesion is tightly regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation of catenins. However, this effect is not observed in human colon carcinoma cell line Caco-2. Here, we have generated inducible Caco-2 clones that display p120Cas1B, a p120-catenin isoform poorly expressed by these cells. As a result, neither expression of the transgene nor tyrosine phosphorylation of catenins induces redistribution of E-cadherin to the cytosol and disassembly of adherens and tight junctions. In contrast, E-cadherin appears markedly increased reinforcing cell-cell adhesion. Interestingly, a substantial decrease in p120-catenin levels is found in MDCK cells expressing Snail, in which E-cadherin expression is strongly inhibited. Additionally, we show that the specific depletion of p120-catenin decreases cell-cell contacts, and increases cell motility and scattering of colonies established by HT-29 M6 cells. Together our results corroborate that p120-catenin plays an essential role in the maintenance of the required E-cadherin protein levels that prevent the loss of epithelial characteristics occurred during tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Biologia Cellular i Molecular, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. sroura@hsp.santpau.es
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roura
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Domínguez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D051177:Catenins; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D000095002:Delta Catenin
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014443:Tyrosine; D000095002:Delta Catenin