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Title
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-Catenin : a novel tissue-specific -catenin-binding protein mediating strong cell-cell adhesion
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Author
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Abstract
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| Cadherins are major cell-cell adhesion proteins whose cytoplasmic domains bind to catenin proteins. Strong intercellular adhesion depends on linkage of the cadherin/catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton via alpha -catenin. To date, it is not clear how different cell types achieve the variable strength of cell-cell adhesion clearly needed in a multicellular organism. Here, we report the cloning and molecular characterization of alphaE(testis)catenin, a novel human cDNA encoding a protein with homology to both human alphaE(epithelial)-catenin and alphaN(neural)-catenin. Although originally discovered in testis, alphaT-catenin is expressed in other tissues, the highest levels being observed in heart. Immunohistochemical analysis showed human alphaT-catenin localization at intercalated discs of cardiomyocytes and in peritubular myoid cells of testis. In cells transfected with alphaT-catenin cDNA, interaction with beta -catenin was demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation. Transfection of alpha -catenin-deficient colon carcinoma cells recruited E-cadherin and beta -catenin to cell-cell contacts and functional cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion was restored in this way. Moreover, compaction of these cells was at least as prominent as in the case of cells expressing endogenous alphaE-catenin. We propose that alphaT-catenin is necessary for the formation of stretch-resistant cell-cell adhesion complexes, in particular, muscle cells. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Journal of cell science. - Cambridge, 1966, currens
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Publication
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Cambridge
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2001
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ISSN
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0021-9533
[print]
1477-9137
[online]
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Volume/pages
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114
:17
(2001)
, p. 3177-3188
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ISI
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000171266100015
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Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
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