title: Modifier of cell adhesion regulates N-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth.
abstract: Modifier of cell adhesion (MOCA) is a member of the dedicator of cytokinesis 180 family of proteins and is highly expressed in CNS neurons. MOCA is associated with Alzheimer's disease tangles and regulates the accumulation of amyloid precursor protein and beta-amyloid. Here, we report that MOCA modulates cell-cell adhesion and morphology. MOCA increases the accumulation of adherens junction proteins, including N-cadherin and beta-catenin, whereas reducing endogenous MOCA expression lowers cell-cell aggregation and N-cadherin expression. MOCA colocalizes with N-cadherin and actin in areas of cell-cell and cell substratum contact and is expressed in neuronal processes. MOCA accumulates during neuronal differentiation, and its expression enhances NGF-induced neurite outgrowth and morphological complexity. We conclude that MOCA regulates N-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tsan-Ju
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Letourneau
authors.forename: Luciano Da F
authors.initials: Lda F
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schubert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051381:Rats; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014162:Transfection; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; C495268:Ctnnb1 protein, rat; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C485840:DOCK3 protein, human; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin