Embryonic undifferentiated cells show scattering activity on a surface coated with immobilized E-cadherin.
Rearrangement of cell-cell adhesion is a critical event in embryonic development and tissue formation. We investigated the regulatory function of E-cadherin, a key adhesion protein, in the developmental process by using E-cadherin/IgG Fc fusion protein as an adhesion matrix in cell culture. F9 embryonal carcinoma cells usually form colonies when cultured on gelatin or fibronectin matrices. However, F9 cells cultured on the E-cadherin/IgG Fc fusion protein matrix formed a scattered distribution, with a different cytoskeletal organization and E-cadherin-rich protrusions that were regulated by Rac1 activity. The same scattering activity was observed in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells. In contrast, three types of differentiated cells, NMuMG mammary gland cells, MDCK kidney epithelial cells, and mouse primary isolated hepatocytes, did not show the scattering activity observed in F9 and P19 cells. These results suggest that migratory behavior on an E-cadherin-immobilized surface is only observed in embryonic cells, and that the regulatory mechanisms underlying E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion vary with the state of differentiation.
Nagaoka
Masato
M
Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
Ise
Hirohiko
H
Harada
Ichiro
I
Koshimizu
Uichi
U
Maruyama
Atsushi
A
Akaike
Toshihiro
T
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D013499:Surface Properties; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein