title: P-cadherin counteracts myosin II-B function: implications in melanoma progression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant transformation of melanocytes is frequently attended by a switch in cadherin expression profile as shown for E- and N-cadherin. For P-cadherin, downregulation in metastasizing melanoma has been demonstrated, and over-expression of P-cadherin in melanoma cell lines has been shown to inhibit invasion. The strong invasive and metastatic nature of cutaneous melanoma implies a deregulated interplay between intercellular adhesion and migration-related molecules
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study we performed a microarray analysis to compare the mRNA expression profile of an invasive BLM melanoma cell line (BLM LIE) and the non-invasive P-cadherin over-expression variant (BLM P-cad). Results indicate that nonmuscle myosin II-B is downregulated in BLM P-cad. Moreover, myosin II-B plays a major role in melanoma migration and invasiveness by retracting the tail during the migratory cycle, as shown by the localization of myosin II-B stress fibers relative to Golgi and the higher levels of phosphorylated myosin light chain. Analysis of P-cadherin and myosin II-B in nodular melanoma sections and in a panel of melanoma cell lines further confirmed that there is an inverse relationship between both molecules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, we conclude that P-cadherin counteracts the expression and function of myosin II-B, resulting in the suppression of the invasive and migratory behaviour of BLM melanoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation Oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Gele
authors.forename: Ramses
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forsyth
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brochez
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vanhoecke
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: De Wever
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bracke
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D024501:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIB / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D024501:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIB