scholarly journals Regulation of cell–cell adhesion by the cadherin–catenin complex

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. James Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Rho Gtpases ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Cytoplasmic Proteins ◽  
Cytoskeleton Reorganization ◽  
Dependent Cell ◽  
And Function ◽  
Cell Cell

Ca2+-dependent cell–cell adhesion is regulated by the cadherin family of cell adhesion proteins. Cadherins form trans-interactions on opposing cell surfaces which result in weak cell–cell adhesion. Stronger cell–cell adhesion occurs by clustering of cadherins and through changes in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Although cadherins were thought to bind directly to the actin cytoskeleton through cytoplasmic proteins, termed α- and β-catenin, recent studies with purified proteins indicate that the interaction is not direct, and instead an allosteric switch in α-catenin may mediate actin cytoskeleton reorganization. Organization and function of the cadherin–catenin complex are additionally regulated by phosphorylation and endocytosis. Direct studies of cell–cell adhesion has revealed that the cadherin–catenin complex and the underlying actin cytoskeleton undergo a series of reorganizations that are controlled by the Rho GTPases, Rac1 and RhoA, that result in the expansion and completion of cell–cell adhesion. In the present article, in vitro protein assembly studies and live-cell studies of de novo cell–cell adhesion are discussed in the context of how the cadherin–catenin complex and the actin cytoskeleton regulate cell–cell adhesion.

scholarly journals LI-Cadherin–mediated Cell–Cell Adhesion Does Not Require Cytoplasmic Interactions

1997 ◽  
Vol 136 (5) ◽  
pp. 1109-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertolt Kreft ◽  
Dietmar Berndorff ◽  
Anja Böttinger ◽  
Silvia Finnemann ◽  
Doris Wedlich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Adhesive Properties ◽  
Glycosyl Phosphatidylinositol ◽  
Cytoplasmic Proteins ◽  
Classical Cadherins ◽  
Drosophila S2 Cells ◽  
Detergent Extraction ◽  
Dependent Cell ◽  
Cell Cell

The adhesive function of classical cadherins depends on the association with cytoplasmic proteins, termed catenins, which serve as a link between cadherins and the actin cytoskeleton. LI-cadherin, a structurally different member of the cadherin family, mediates Ca2+-dependent cell–cell adhesion, although its markedly short cytoplasmic domain exhibits no homology to this highly conserved region of classical cadherins. We now examined whether the adhesive function of LI-cadherin depends on the interaction with catenins, the actin cytoskeleton or other cytoplasmic components. In contrast to classical cadherins, LI-cadherin, when expressed in mouse L cells, was neither associated with catenins nor did it induce an upregulation of β-catenin. Consistent with these findings, LI-cadherin was not resistant to detergent extraction and did not induce a reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. However, LI-cadherin was still able to mediate Ca2+dependent cell–cell adhesion. To analyze whether this function requires any interaction with proteins other than catenins, a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol–anchored form of LI-cadherin (LI-cadherinGPI) was constructed and expressed in Drosophila S2 cells. The mutant protein was able to induce Ca2+-dependent, homophilic cell–cell adhesion, and its adhesive properties were indistinguishable from those of wild type LI-cadherin. These findings indicate that the adhesive function of LI-cadherin is independent of any interaction with cytoplasmic components, and consequently should not be sensitive to regulatory mechanisms affecting the binding of classical cadherins to catenins and to the cytoskeleton. Thus, we postulate that the adhesive function of LI-cadherin is complementary to that of coexpressed classical cadherins ensuring cell–cell contacts even under conditions that downregulate the function of classical cadherins.

Characterization of the interactions of alpha-catenin with alpha-actinin and beta-catenin/plakoglobin

1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (8) ◽  
pp. 1013-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.E. Nieset ◽  
A.R. Redfield ◽  
F. Jin ◽  
K.A. Knudsen ◽  
K.R. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Beta Catenin ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Yeast Two Hybrid ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Cytoplasmic Proteins ◽  
Dependent Cell ◽  
Two Hybrid ◽  
Cell Cell

Cadherins are calcium-dependent, cell surface glycoproteins involved in cell-cell adhesion. To function in cell-cell adhesion, the transmembrane cadherin molecule must be associated with the cytoskeleton via cytoplasmic proteins known as catenins. Three catenins, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin (also known as plakoglobin), have been identified. beta-catenin or plakoglobin is associated directly with the cadherin; alpha-catenin binds to beta-catenin/plakoglobin and serves to link the cadherin/catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton. The domains on the cadherin and betacatenin/plakoglobin that are responsible for protein-protein interactions have been mapped. However, little is known about the molecular interactions between alpha-catenin and beta-catenin/plakoglobin or about the interactions between alpha-catenin and the cytoskeleton. In this study we have used the yeast two-hybrid system to map the domains on alpha-catenin that allow it to associate with beta-catenin/plakoglobin and with alpha-actinin. We also identify a region on alpha-actinin that is responsible for its interaction with alpha-catenin. The yeast two-hybrid data were confirmed with biochemical studies.

scholarly journals An Elmo–Dock complex locally controls Rho GTPases and actin remodeling during cadherin-mediated adhesion

2014 ◽  
Vol 207 (5) ◽  
pp. 577-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher P. Toret ◽  
Caitlin Collins ◽  
W. James Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Rho Gtpases ◽  
Rho Gtpase ◽  
Cell Contact ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Cell Contacts ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Dependent Cell ◽  
Cell Cell

Cell–cell contact formation is a dynamic process requiring the coordination of cadherin-based cell–cell adhesion and integrin-based cell migration. A genome-wide RNA interference screen for proteins required specifically for cadherin-dependent cell–cell adhesion identified an Elmo–Dock complex. This was unexpected as Elmo–Dock complexes act downstream of integrin signaling as Rac guanine-nucleotide exchange factors. In this paper, we show that Elmo2 recruits Dock1 to initial cell–cell contacts in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells. At cell–cell contacts, both Elmo2 and Dock1 are essential for the rapid recruitment and spreading of E-cadherin, actin reorganization, localized Rac and Rho GTPase activities, and the development of strong cell–cell adhesion. Upon completion of cell–cell adhesion, Elmo2 and Dock1 no longer localize to cell–cell contacts and are not required subsequently for the maintenance of cell–cell adhesion. These studies show that Elmo–Dock complexes are involved in both integrin- and cadherin-based adhesions, which may help to coordinate the transition of cells from migration to strong cell–cell adhesion.

scholarly journals The cadherins: cell-cell adhesion molecules controlling animal morphogenesis

Development ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Takeichi
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Single Animal ◽  
Cell Layers ◽  
Dependent Cell ◽  
Cell Collective ◽  
Cell Cell

Cadherins are a family of glycoproteins involved in the Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion mechanism which is detected in most kinds of tissues. Inhibition of the cadherin activity with antibodies induces dissociation of cell layers, indicating a fundamental importance of these molecules in maintaining the multicellular structure. Cadherins are divided into subclasses, including E-, N- and P-cadherins. While all subclasses are similar in molecular weight, Ca2+- and protease-sensitivity, each subclass is characterized by a unique tissue distribution pattern and immunological specificity. Analysis of amino acid sequences deduced from cDNA encoding these molecules showed that they are integral membrane proteins of 723–748 amino acids long and share common sequences; similarity in the sequences between subclasses is in a range of 50–60% when compared within a single animal species. L cells, with very little endogenous cadherin activity, transfected with the cadherin cDNA acquired high cadherin-mediated aggregating activity. Their colony morphology was altered by the ectopic expression of cadherins from the dispersed type to the compact type, providing direct evidence for a key role of cadherins in cell-cell adhesion. It has been suggested that cadherins bind cells by their homophilic interactions at the extracellular domain and are associated with actin bundles at the cytoplasmic domain. It appears that each cadherin subclass has binding specificity and this molecular family is involved in selective cell-cell adhesion. In development, the expression of each cadherin subclass is spatiotemporally regulated and associated with a variety of morphogenetic events; e.g. the termination or initiation of expression of a cadherin subclass in a given cell collective is correlated with its segregation from or connection with other cell collectives. Antibodies to cadherins were shown to perturb the morphogenesis of some embryonic organs in vitro. These observations suggest that cadherins play a crucial role in construction of tissues and the whole animal body.

scholarly journals Dismantling Cell–Cell Contacts during Apoptosis Is Coupled to a Caspase-dependent Proteolytic Cleavage of β-Catenin

1997 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 759-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Brancolini ◽  
Dean Lazarevic ◽  
Joe Rodriguez ◽  
Claudio Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Contacts ◽  
Carboxy Terminal ◽  
Cell Cell

Cell death by apoptosis is a tightly regulated process that requires coordinated modification in cellular architecture. The caspase protease family has been shown to play a key role in apoptosis. Here we report that specific and ordered changes in the actin cytoskeleton take place during apoptosis. In this context, we have dissected one of the first hallmarks in cell death, represented by the severing of contacts among neighboring cells. More specifically, we provide demonstration for the mechanism that could contribute to the disassembly of cytoskeletal organization at cell–cell adhesion. In fact, β-catenin, a known regulator of cell–cell adhesion, is proteolytically processed in different cell types after induction of apoptosis. Caspase-3 (cpp32/apopain/yama) cleaves in vitro translated β-catenin into a form which is similar in size to that observed in cells undergoing apoptosis. β-Catenin cleavage, during apoptosis in vivo and after caspase-3 treatment in vitro, removes the amino- and carboxy-terminal regions of the protein. The resulting β-catenin product is unable to bind α-catenin that is responsible for actin filament binding and organization. This evidence indicates that connection with actin filaments organized at cell–cell contacts could be dismantled during apoptosis. Our observations suggest that caspases orchestrate the specific and sequential changes in the actin cytoskeleton occurring during cell death via cleavage of different regulators of the microfilament system.

Vascular-endothelial-cadherin modulates endothelial monolayer permeability

1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (12) ◽  
pp. 1915-1923 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.L. Hordijk ◽  
E. Anthony ◽  
F.P. Mul ◽  
R. Rientsma ◽  
L.C. Oomen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Cell Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Transendothelial Migration ◽  
Stress Fibers ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Monolayer Permeability ◽  
Actin Stress Fibers ◽  
Cell Cell

Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is the endothelium-specific member of the cadherin family of homotypic cell adhesion molecules. VE-cadherin, but not the cell adhesion molecule platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1), markedly colocalizes with actin stress fibers at cell-cell junctions between human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Inhibition of VE-cadherin-mediated, but not PECAM-1-mediated, adhesion induced reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, loss of junctional VE-cadherin staining and loss of cell-cell adhesion. In functional assays, inhibition of VE-cadherin caused increased monolayer permeability and enhanced neutrophil transendothelial migration. In a complementary set of experiments, modulation of the actin cytoskeleton was found to strongly affect VE-cadherin distribution. Brief stimulation of the beta2-adrenergic receptor with isoproterenol induced a loss of actin stress fibers resulting in a linear, rather than ‘jagged’, VE-cadherin distribution. The concomitant, isoproterenol-induced, reduction in monolayer permeability was alleviated by a VE-cadherin-blocking antibody. Finally, cytoskeletal reorganization resulting from the inactivation of p21Rho caused a diffuse localization of VE-cadherin, which was accompanied by reduced cell-cell adhesion. Together, these data show that monolayer permeability and neutrophil transendothelial migration are modulated by VE-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion, which is in turn controlled by the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton.

scholarly journals Reevaluating αE-catenin monomer and homodimer functions by characterizing E-cadherin/αE-catenin chimeras

2015 ◽  
Vol 210 (7) ◽  
pp. 1065-1074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. Bianchini ◽  
Khameeka N. Kitt ◽  
Martijn Gloerich ◽  
Sabine Pokutta ◽  
William I. Weis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Intercellular Adhesion ◽  
Dependent Cell ◽  
In Cells ◽  
E Cadherin ◽  
Cell Cell

As part of the E-cadherin–β-catenin–αE-catenin complex (CCC), mammalian αE-catenin binds F-actin weakly in the absence of force, whereas cytosolic αE-catenin forms a homodimer that interacts more strongly with F-actin. It has been concluded that cytosolic αE-catenin homodimer is not important for intercellular adhesion because E-cadherin/αE-catenin chimeras thought to mimic the CCC are sufficient to induce cell–cell adhesion. We show that, unlike αE-catenin in the CCC, these chimeras homodimerize, bind F-actin strongly, and inhibit the Arp2/3 complex, all of which are properties of the αE-catenin homodimer. To more accurately mimic the junctional CCC, we designed a constitutively monomeric chimera, and show that E-cadherin–dependent cell adhesion is weaker in cells expressing this chimera compared with cells in which αE-catenin homodimers are present. Our results demonstrate that E-cadherin/αE-catenin chimeras used previously do not mimic αE-catenin in the native CCC, and imply that both CCC-bound monomer and cytosolic homodimer αE-catenin are required for strong cell–cell adhesion.

scholarly journals Maturation of Embryonic Stem Cells Into Endothelial Cells in an In Vitro Model of Vasculogenesis

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 1253-1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanori Hirashima ◽  
Hiroshi Kataoka ◽  
Satomi Nishikawa ◽  
Norihisa Matsuyoshi ◽  
Shin-Ichi Nishikawa
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Culture System ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Cell Cell

A primitive vascular plexus is formed through coordinated regulation of differentiation, proliferation, migration, and cell-cell adhesion of endothelial cell (EC) progenitors. In this study, a culture system was devised to investigate the behavior of purified EC progenitors in vitro. Because Flk-1+ cells derived from ES cells did not initially express other EC markers, they were sorted and used as EC progenitors. Their in vitro differentiation into ECs, via vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin)+ platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1)+ CD34−to VE-cadherin+ PECAM-1+CD34+ stage, occurred without exogenous factors, whereas their proliferation, particularly at low cell density, required OP9 feeder cells. On OP9 feeder layer, EC progenitors gave rise to sheet-like clusters of Flk-1+ cells, with VE-cadherin concentrated at the cell-cell junction. The growth was suppressed by Flt-1-IgG1 chimeric protein and dependent on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) but not placenta growth factor (PIGF). Further addition of VEGF resulted in cell dispersion, indicating the role of VEGF in the migration of ECs as well as their proliferation. Cell-cell adhesion of ECs in this culture system was mediated by VE-cadherin. Thus, the culture system described here is useful in dissecting the cellular events of EC progenitors that occur during vasculogenesis and in investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes.

scholarly journals Progressive methylation of POU5F1 regulatory regions during blastocyst development

Reproduction ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Canon ◽  
L Jouneau ◽  
T Blachère ◽  
N Peynot ◽  
N Daniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Distal Enhancer ◽  
Blastocyst Development ◽  
Differentiated Cells ◽  
Rabbit Blastocyst ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
And Function

ThePOU5F1gene encodes one of the ‘core’ transcription factors necessary to establish and maintain pluripotency in mammals. Its function depends on its precise level of expression, so its transcription has to be tightly regulated. To date, few conserved functional elements have been identified in its 5′ regulatory region: a distal and a proximal enhancer, and a minimal promoter, epigenetic modifications of which interfere withPOU5F1expression and function inin vitro-derived cell lines. Also, its permanent inactivation in differentiated cells depends onde novomethylation of its promoter. However, little is known about the epigenetic regulation ofPOU5F1expression in the embryo itself. We used the rabbit blastocyst as a model to analyze the methylation dynamics of thePOU5F15′ upstream region, relative to its regulated expression in different compartments of the blastocyst over a 2-day period of development. We evidenced progressive methylation of the 5′ regulatory region and the first exon accompanying differentiation and the gradual repression ofPOU5F1. Methylation started in the early trophectoderm before complete transcriptional inactivation. Interestingly, the distal enhancer, which is known to be active in naïve pluripotent cells only, retained a very low level of methylation in primed pluripotent epiblasts and remained less methylated in differentiated compartments than the proximal enhancer. This detailed study identified CpGs with the greatest variations in methylation, as well as groups of CpGs showing a highly correlated behavior, during differentiation. Moreover, our findings evidenced few CpGs with very specific behavior during this period of development.

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