Identification of regions of α-catenin required for desmosome organization in epithelial cells

  • Authors:
    • Tamotsu Taniguchi
    • Mutsumi Miyazaki
    • Yayoi Miyashita
    • Terukatsu Arima
    • Masayuki Ozawa
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 1, 2005     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.16.6.1003
  • Pages: 1003-1008
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Abstract

α-catenin, a cadherin-associated protein, links cadherin/β-catenin and cadherin/plakoglobin complexes to the actin cytoskeleton. This protein is required for the function of cadherins, cell adhesion molecules. We transfected an α-catenin-deficient colon carcinoma line, which cannot organize desmosomes, with a series of α-catenin mutant constructs. We examined the formation of desmosomes in these cells by immunofluorescence staining using anti-desmoglein and anti-desmoplakin antibodies. The results demonstrated that either the middle or the carboxy-terminal region of α-catenin was required for desmosome formation. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the amounts of desmoglein and desmoplakin did not differ significantly between cells that were capable of forming desmosomes and those that failed to form desmosomes. Cell surface biotinylation revealed that desmoglein was retained intracellularly in cells that could not organize desmosomes. The internal domain binds vinculin and α-actinin, actin-binding proteins, while the carboxy-terminal domain has the ability to bind and bundle actin filaments. These results indicate that the interaction of α-catenin and actin functions in the assembly of desmosomes in epithelial cells.

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December 2005
Volume 16 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Taniguchi T, Miyazaki M, Miyashita Y, Arima T and Ozawa M: Identification of regions of α-catenin required for desmosome organization in epithelial cells. Int J Mol Med 16: 1003-1008, 2005.
APA
Taniguchi, T., Miyazaki, M., Miyashita, Y., Arima, T., & Ozawa, M. (2005). Identification of regions of α-catenin required for desmosome organization in epithelial cells. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 16, 1003-1008. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.16.6.1003
MLA
Taniguchi, T., Miyazaki, M., Miyashita, Y., Arima, T., Ozawa, M."Identification of regions of α-catenin required for desmosome organization in epithelial cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 16.6 (2005): 1003-1008.
Chicago
Taniguchi, T., Miyazaki, M., Miyashita, Y., Arima, T., Ozawa, M."Identification of regions of α-catenin required for desmosome organization in epithelial cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 16, no. 6 (2005): 1003-1008. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.16.6.1003