E-cadherin mediates adhesion and suppresses cell motility via distinct mechanisms

1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Chen ◽  
N.E. Paradies ◽  
M. Fedor-Chaiken ◽  
R. Brackenbury

Expression of the calcium-dependent adhesion molecule E-cadherin suppresses the invasion of cells in vitro, but the mechanism of this effect is unknown. To investigate this mechanism, we analyzed the effects of expressing E-cadherin in mouse L-cells and rat astrocyte-like WC5 cells. Increased cellular adhesion mediated by E-cadherin reduced invasion in WC5 cells and in some L-cells, but not in others. In all cases, suppression of invasion was correlated with decreased cell movement as assessed in an in vitro wound-filling assay and a transwell motility assay. To define the relationship between adhesion mediated by E-cadherin and suppression of motility, we analyzed the effects of deleting different regions of the E-cadherin cytoplasmic domain. E-cadherin lacking the entire cytoplasmic domain did not mediate calcium-dependent adhesion and did not reduce cell motility when expressed in WC5 cells. E-cadherin lacking a portion of the catenin-binding domain did not associate with the cytoskeleton and did not promote adhesion, yet still suppressed the motility of WC5 cells. In addition, E-cadherin that retains an intact catenin-binding domain, but lacks a juxtamembrane portion of the cytoplasmic domain, mediated effective adhesion, but did not suppress motility. These results indicate E-cadherin mediates adhesion and suppresses cell motility via distinct of E-cadherin plays a key role in suppressing motility.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-201
Author(s):  
George D Glinos ◽  
Irena Pastar ◽  
Marjana Tomic-Canic ◽  
Rivka C Stone

Darier disease (DD) is an autosomal dominant keratinizing genodermatosis that manifests clinically with red-brown pruritic papules in a seborrheic distribution often in association with palmoplantar pits and dystrophic nail changes. It is caused by mutation in ATP2A2 which encodes a sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase isoform 2 (SERCA2) pump that regulates calcium flux. Consequent alteration of intracellular calcium homeostasis is thought to impair trafficking of cellular adhesion proteins and to lead to aberrant keratinocyte differentiation, contributing to the characteristic histopathologic features of acantholysis and dyskeratosis in DD, though the precise mechanisms are incompletely understood. Previous studies have identified defective localization of desmosomal attachment proteins in skin biopsies and cultured keratinocytes from DD patients, but reports of effects on adherens junction proteins (including calcium-dependent E-cadherin) are conflicting. Here we describe a case of DD presenting with characteristic clinical and histologic features in which we performed immunofluorescence staining of four adherens junction-associated proteins (E-cadherin, α-catenin, β-catenin, and vinculin). In lesional (acantholytic) DD skin, we identified loss of distinctive bright membranous staining that was present at the periphery of keratinocytes throughout the epidermis in the healthy skin of a matched donor. Perilesional (non-acantholytic) portions of DD skin partially recapitulated the normal phenotype. Our findings support a role for SERCA2 dysfunction in impaired assembly of adherens junctions, which together with defective desmosomes contribute to acantholysis in DD.


1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 1235-1243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Sanderson ◽  
Michael Way ◽  
Geoffrey L. Smith

ABSTRACT Many viruses induce profound changes in cell metabolism and function. Here we show that vaccinia virus induces two distinct forms of cell movement. Virus-induced cell migration was demonstrated by an in vitro wound healing assay in which infected cells migrated independently into the wound area while uninfected cells remained relatively static. Time-lapse microscopy showed that the maximal rate of migration occurred between 9 and 12 h postinfection. Virus-induced cell migration was inhibited by preinactivation of viral particles with trioxsalen and UV light or by the addition of cycloheximide but not by addition of cytosine arabinoside or rifampin. The expression of early viral genes is therefore necessary and sufficient to induce cell migration. Following migration, infected cells developed projections up to 160 μm in length which had growth-cone-like structures and were frequently branched. Time-lapse video microscopy showed that these projections were formed by extension and condensation of lamellipodia from the cell body. Formation of extensions was dependent on late gene expression but not the production of intracellular enveloped (IEV) particles. The requirements for virus-induced cell migration and for the formation of extensions therefore differ from each other and are distinct from the polymerization of actin tails on IEV particles. These data show that poxviruses encode genes which control different aspects of cell motility and thus represent a useful model system to study and dissect cell movement.


1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (12) ◽  
pp. 3655-3663 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Aberle ◽  
S. Butz ◽  
J. Stappert ◽  
H. Weissig ◽  
R. Kemler ◽  
...  

The cytoplasmic domain of classical cadherins is tightly associated with three proteins termed alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin. These accessory proteins are of central importance for the adhesive properties of this class of cell adhesion molecules. In order to examine the molecular architecture of the cadherin-catenin complex in more detail we have expressed the catenins and the cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli, and analyzed the interaction of purified recombinant cadherin and catenins in combinatorial protein-protein interaction experiments. The cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin cannot directly associate with alpha-catenin but interacts with high affinity with beta-catenin, whereas the binding of gamma-catenin (plakoglobin) to E-cadherin is less efficient. alpha- and beta-catenin assemble into a 1:1 heterodimeric complex. The analysis of various truncated beta-catenins revealed that an alpha-catenin binding site in beta-catenin is localized between amino acid positions 120 and 151. The central role of beta-catenin for the assembly of the heterotrimeric E-cadherin/alpha-catenin/beta-catenin complex in mixing experiments with all components was demonstrated. The reconstitution in vitro of the cadherin-catenin complex should allow the study of the interaction with signalling molecules and with the actin-based cytoskeleton.


2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2533-2546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph J. Loureiro ◽  
Douglas A. Rubinson ◽  
James E. Bear ◽  
Gretchen A. Baltus ◽  
Adam V. Kwiatkowski ◽  
...  

The Ena/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) protein family is implicated in the regulation of a number of actin-based cellular processes, including lamellipodial protrusion necessary for whole cell translocation. A growing body of evidence derived largely from in vitro biochemical experiments using purified proteins, cell-free extracts, and pathogen motility has begun to suggest various mechanistic roles for Ena/VASP proteins in the control of actin dynamics. Using complementation of phenotypes in Ena/VASP-deficient cells and overexpression in normal fibroblasts, we have assayed the function of a panel of mutants in one member of this family, Mena, by mutating highly conserved sequence elements found in this protein family. Surprisingly, deletion of sites required for binding of the actin monomer-binding protein profilin, a known ligand of Ena/VASP proteins, has no effect on the ability of Mena to regulate random cell motility. Our analysis revealed two features essential for Ena/VASP function in cell movement, cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinase phosphorylation sites and an F-actin binding motif. Interestingly, expression of the C-terminal EVH2 domain alone is sufficient to complement loss of Ena/VASP function in random cell motility.


2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (14) ◽  
pp. 5167-5176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah R. Yoder-Himes ◽  
Lee Kroos

ABSTRACT The bacterium Myxococcus xanthus employs extracellular signals to coordinate aggregation and sporulation during multicellular development. Extracellular, contact-dependent signaling that involves the CsgA protein (called C-signaling) activates FruA, a putative response regulator that governs a branched signaling pathway inside cells. One branch regulates cell movement, leading to aggregation. The other branch regulates gene expression, leading to sporulation. C-signaling is required for full expression of most genes induced after 6 h into development, including the gene identified by Tn5 lac insertion Ω4400. To determine if FruA is a direct regulator of Ω4400 transcription, a combination of in vivo and in vitro experiments was performed. Ω4400 expression was abolished in a fruA mutant. The DNA-binding domain of FruA bound specifically to DNA upstream of the promoter −35 region in vitro. Mutations between bp −86 and −77 greatly reduced binding. One of these mutations had been shown previously to reduce Ω4400 expression in vivo and make it independent of C-signaling. For the first time, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments were performed on M. xanthus. The ChIP experiments demonstrated that FruA is associated with the Ω4400 promoter region late in development, even in the absence of C-signaling. Based on these results, we propose that FruA directly activates Ω4400 transcription to a moderate level prior to C-signaling and, in response to C-signaling, binds near bp −80 and activates transcription to a higher level. Also, the highly localized effects of mutations between bp −86 and −77 on DNA binding in vitro, together with recently published footprints, allow us to predict a consensus binding site of GTCG/CGA/G for the FruA DNA-binding domain.


1999 ◽  
Vol 144 (6) ◽  
pp. 1311-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuzo Imamura ◽  
Masahiko Itoh ◽  
Yoshito Maeno ◽  
Shoichiro Tsukita ◽  
Akira Nagafuchi

The interaction of cadherin–catenin complex with the actin-based cytoskeleton through α-catenin is indispensable for cadherin-based cell adhesion activity. We reported previously that E-cadherin–α-catenin fusion molecules showed cell adhesion and cytoskeleton binding activities when expressed in nonepithelial L cells. Here, we constructed deletion mutants of E-cadherin–α-catenin fusion molecules lacking various domains of α-catenin and introduced them into L cells. Detailed analysis identified three distinct functional domains of α-catenin: a vinculin/α-actinin-binding domain, a ZO-1-binding domain, and an adhesion-modulation domain. Furthermore, cell dissociation assay revealed that the fusion molecules containing the ZO-1-binding domain in addition to the adhesion-modulation domain conferred the strong state of cell adhesion activity on transfectants, although those lacking the ZO-1-binding domain conferred only the weak state. The disorganization of actin-based cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D treatment shifted the cadherin-based cell adhesion from the strong to the weak state. In the epithelial cells, where α-catenin was not precisely colocalized with ZO-1, the ZO-1-binding domain did not completely support the strong state of cell adhesion activity. Our studies showed that the interaction of α-catenin with the actin-based cytoskeleton through the ZO-1-binding domain is required for the strong state of E-cadherin–based cell adhesion activity.


1989 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Nagafuchi ◽  
M Takeichi

Cadherins are a family of transmembrane glycoproteins which play a key role in Ca(2+)-dependent cell-cell adhesion. Cytoplasmic domains of these molecules are anchored to the cell cytoskeleton and are required for cadherin function. To elucidate how the function of cadherins is controlled through their cytoplasmic domains, we deleted five different regions in the cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin. After transfecting L cells with cDNA encoding the mutant polypeptides, we assayed aggregating activity of these transfectants; all these mutant proteins were shown to have an extracellular domain with normal Ca(2+)-sensitivity and molecular weight. Two mutant polypeptides with deletions in the carboxy half of the cytoplasmic domain, however, did not promote cell-cell adhesion and had also lost the ability to bind to the cytoskeleton, whereas the mutant molecules with deletions of other regions retained the ability to promote cell adhesion and to anchor to the cytoskeleton. Thus, the cytoplasmic domain contains a subdomain which was involved in the cell adhesion and cytoskeleton-binding functions. When E-cadherin in F9 cells or in L cells transfected with wild-type or functional mutant cadherin polypeptides was solubilized with nonionic detergents and immunoprecipitated, two additional 94 and 102 kDa components were coprecipitated. The 94 kDa component, however, was not detected in the immunoprecipitates from cells expressing the mutant cadherins which had lost the adhesive function. These results suggest that the interaction of the carboxy half of the cytoplasmic domain with the 94 kDa component regulates the cell binding function of the extracellular domain of E-cadherin.


1994 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Chen ◽  
K Gupta ◽  
A Wells

The EGF receptor (EGFR) upon activation signals increased cell movement. However, the domains within the receptor, and the pathway which trigger movement are undefined. We expressed EGFR mutants at physiologic levels in receptor-devoid NR6 cells to investigate this biologic response. The receptors possessed kinase activity and underwent autophosphorylation as predicted by primary amino acid sequence. EGF-induced cell motility was assessed in vitro by excess migration into an acellular area and colony scatter in the presence of saturating concentrations of EGF. Wild-type (WT)-EGFR signaled increased motility. However, replacing the conserved lysine721 with methionine resulted in a kinase-inactive receptor which did not elicit movement. Removal of the entire terminus by truncation (c'973) also abrogated ligand-induced motility. Thus, we concentrated on the carboxy-terminal domains. EGF-induced movement was seen with a less-truncated mutant (c'1000) that contained a single autophosphorylated tyrosine (tyrosine992). Other mutants, c'991 and c'1000F992, in which this tyrosine was removed did not signal motility. Fusion mutants which presented other autophosphorylated tyrosine domains also exhibited EGF-induced movement. These findings suggested that the presence of both an autophosphorylated tyrosine signaling domain and the kinase activity are necessary for this biologic response. All kinase-positive mutants signaled cell proliferation but only those that contained autophosphorylatable tyrosines induced movement. The motility responses mediated by these EGFR were identical in the presence or absence of mitomycin-C, at a dose (0.5 micrograms/ml) which completely inhibited cell proliferation. On the other side, D-actinomycin (50 ng/ml) blocked EGF-induced motility but did not affect thymidine incorporation. Thus, EGF-induced mitogenesis and cell motility are mediated through different pathways.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Desuki ◽  
Frank Staib ◽  
Ines Gockel ◽  
Markus Moehler ◽  
Hauke Lang ◽  
...  

Background. Loss ofLLGL1has been associated with loss of cellular adhesion and dissemination of cells from colorectal cancer and malignant melanoma. Regulation and relevance ofLLGL1were analyzed in gastric cancer patients with lymphatic and distant dissemination. Furthermore,LLGL1expression was analyzed in relation to the cellular adhesion proteinE-cadherin.Methods.LLGL1andE-cadherintranscription levels were evaluated in 56 gastric cancer patients and five gastric cancer cell lines. IHC staining forLLGL1was performed on 39 gastric cancer specimens.LLGL1was stably transfected intoLLGL1negative gastric cancer cell line SNU16 (del(17) (p11.2)) for functionalin vitroassays and a xenograft bioassay.Results. Gastric cancer specimens and cell lines displayedLLGL1andE-cadherinexpression levels with variable intensity. In gastric mucosa,LLGL1exhibited weak cytoplasmic and strong cortical staining. Loss ofLLGL1expression occurred in 65% of gastric cancers and significantly correlated with loss ofE-cadherinexpression (P=0.00009). Loss ofLLGL1expression was associated with the diffuse type of gastric cancer (P=0.029) with peritoneal carcinomatosis (M1; P=0.006) and with female gender (P=0.017). Stable reexpression ofLLGL1in SNU16 cells significantly increased both plastic surface adhesion and extracellular matrix proteins laminin and fibronectin, but had no impact onin vitroproliferation, apoptosis, or invasion or onin vivoproliferation or differentiation in our xenograft bioassay.Conclusion.LLGL1is coexpressed withE-cadherin.Loss of expression of either protein is associated with diffuse gastric cancer and peritoneal metastases.LLGL1does not impact on proliferation or epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) rather increasing cellular adhesion.


1993 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 1857-1865 ◽  
Author(s):  
R S Bradley ◽  
P Cowin ◽  
A M Brown

The Wnt-1 gene plays an essential role in fetal brain development and encodes a secreted protein whose signaling mechanism is presently unknown. In this report we have investigated intracellular mechanisms by which the Wnt-1 gene induces morphological changes in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. PC12 cells expressing Wnt-1 show increased steady-state levels of the adhesive junction protein plakoglobin, and an altered distribution of this protein within the cell. This effect appears similar to a modulation of the plakoglobin homolog, Armadillo, that occurs in Drosophila embryos in response to the Wnt-1 homolog, wingless (Riggleman, B., P. Schedl, and E. Wieschaus. 1990. Cell. 63:549-560). In addition, PC12/Wnt-1 cells show elevated expression of E-cadherin and increased calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion. These results imply evolutionary conservation of cellular responses to Wnt-1/wingless and indicate that in certain cell types Wnt-1 may act to modulate cell adhesion mechanisms.


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