title: Monomeric α-catenin links cadherin to the actin cytoskeleton.
abstract: The linkage of adherens junctions to the actin cytoskeleton is essential for cell adhesion. The contribution of the cadherin-catenin complex to the interaction between actin and the adherens junction remains an intensely investigated subject that centres on the function of α-catenin, which binds to cadherin through β-catenin and can bind F-actin directly or indirectly. Here, we delineate regions within Drosophila α-Catenin (α-Cat) that are important for adherens junction performance in static epithelia and dynamic morphogenetic processes. Moreover, we address whether persistent α-catenin-mediated physical linkage between cadherin and F-actin is crucial for cell adhesion and characterize the functions of α-catenin monomers and dimers at adherens junctions. Our data support the view that monomeric α-catenin acts as an essential physical linker between the cadherin-β-catenin complex and the actin cytoskeleton, whereas α-catenin dimers are cytoplasmic and form an equilibrium with monomeric junctional α-catenin.
authors: Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G5, Canada.
authors: Ridhdhi
authors: R
authors: Desai
authors: Ritu
authors: R
authors: Sarpal
authors: Noboru
authors: N
authors: Ishiyama
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Pellikka
authors: Mitsuhiko
authors: M
authors: Ikura
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Tepass
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D000494:Allosteric Regulation; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin