Myosin 2 is a key Rho kinase target necessary for the local concentration of E-cadherin at cell-cell contacts.

ABSTRACT: Classical cadherins accumulate at cell-cell contacts as a characteristic response to productive adhesive ligation. Such local accumulation of cadherins is a developmentally regulated process that supports cell adhesiveness and cell-cell cohesion. Yet the molecular effectors responsible for cadherin accumulation remain incompletely understood. We now report that Myosin 2 is critical for cells to concentrate E-cadherin at cell-cell contacts. Myosin 2 is found at cadherin-based cell-cell contacts and its recruitment requires E-cadherin activity. Indeed, both Myosin 2 recruitment and its activation were stimulated by E-cadherin homophilic ligation alone. Inhibition of Myosin 2 activity by blebbistatin or ML-7 rapidly impaired the ability of cells to concentrate E-cadherin at adhesive contacts,

SUBMITTER: Shewan AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1237062 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature