The central dogma of cell-cell adhesion is that E-cadherin binds to beta-catenin which binds to alpha-catenin which binds to the cytoskeleton. Since the original elucidation of this process, it has been seen that interruption of this connection at any of these intermediates resulted in loss of adhesion. The consensus was that homotypic cadherin interactions would trigger recruitment of these proteins into a stabile adhesive complex. There is now evidence suggest that alternative pathways may exist. In this proposal we will show preliminary evidence that the cadherin complex may be constructed and possibly regulated by interactions and modifications of cytoplasmic proteins. We use a recombinant cadherin probe for homotypic interaction to contrast static , strong or stable adhesion with dynamic , weak or transcient adhesion. These experiments suggest that different protein components are present in each complex. In particular, we find that vinculin appears to participate in the dynamic complexes, in a direct interaction with cadherin complexes containing E-cadherin and beta- catenin but not alpha-catenin. We hypothesize that vinculin and alpha- catenin, by their differential interactions with cytoskeletal elements and beta-catenin, play a critical role in establishment and regulation of cell-cell adhesion. We propose three main approaches for testing this hypothesis. First we will determine the mechanism of interaction of vinculin with the cadherin complex, testing its interaction with beta-catenin or determining how it is able to interact with the complex. Secondly, we will define the strength and temporal sequence of adhesion mediated by vinculin compared to that mediated by alpha-catenin. Finally, we will further define the connections of the cadherin complex to the cytoskeleton, comparing that mediated by vinculin with that mediated by alpha-catenin. This proposal describes a fusion of the extracellular domain of E-cadherin with the Fc region of IgG and shows it is capable of participating in the Ca++ sensitive homotypic interaction like a native cadherin molecular. We use this tool throughout this proposal in in vitro adhesion assays and also as a unique probe for the homotypic interaction, as a mechanism to assess the co-precipitable components in the adhesion complex.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM057604-05
Application #
6519890
Study Section
Human Embryology and Development Subcommittee 1 (HED)
Program Officer
Deatherage, James F
Project Start
1998-05-01
Project End
2004-04-30
Budget Start
2002-05-01
Budget End
2004-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$224,505
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Pappas, Derek J; Rimm, David L (2006) Direct interaction of the C-terminal domain of alpha-catenin and F-actin is necessary for stabilized cell-cell adhesion. Cell Commun Adhes 13:151-70
Camp, Robert L; Dolled-Filhart, Marisa; King, Bonnie L et al. (2003) Quantitative analysis of breast cancer tissue microarrays shows that both high and normal levels of HER2 expression are associated with poor outcome. Cancer Res 63:1445-8
Dolled-Filhart, Marisa; Camp, Robert L; Kowalski, Diane P et al. (2003) Tissue microarray analysis of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (Stat3) and phospho-Stat3 (Tyr705) in node-negative breast cancer shows nuclear localization is associated with a better prognosis. Clin Cancer Res 9:594-600
Provost, Elayne; Yamamoto, Yumi; Lizardi, Isabel et al. (2003) Functional correlates of mutations in beta-catenin exon 3 phosphorylation sites. J Biol Chem 278:31781-9
Kang, Jung Y; Dolled-Filhart, Marisa; Ocal, Idris Tolgay et al. (2003) Tissue microarray analysis of hepatocyte growth factor/Met pathway components reveals a role for Met, matriptase, and hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor 1 in the progression of node-negative breast cancer. Cancer Res 63:1101-5
Camp, Robert L; Chung, Gina G; Rimm, David L (2002) Automated subcellular localization and quantification of protein expression in tissue microarrays. Nat Med 8:1323-7
Chung, Gina G; Kielhorn, Eric P; Rimm, David L (2002) Subjective differences in outcome are seen as a function of the immunohistochemical method used on a colorectal cancer tissue microarray. Clin Colorectal Cancer 1:237-42
Chung, G G; Provost, E; Kielhorn, E P et al. (2001) Tissue microarray analysis of beta-catenin in colorectal cancer shows nuclear phospho-beta-catenin is associated with a better prognosis. Clin Cancer Res 7:4013-20
Schofield, K; D'Aquila, T; Rimm, D L (2000) E-cadherin expression is a sensitive and specific method for detection of carcinoma cells in fluid specimens. Diagn Cytopathol 22:263-7
Rimm, D L; Caca, K; Hu, G et al. (1999) Frequent nuclear/cytoplasmic localization of beta-catenin without exon 3 mutations in malignant melanoma. Am J Pathol 154:325-9

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