Atrophin proteins interact with the Fat1 cadherin and regulate migration and orientation in vascular smooth muscle cells.

ABSTRACT: Fat1, an atypical cadherin induced robustly after arterial injury, has significant effects on mammalian vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth and migration. The related Drosophila protein Fat interacts genetically and physically with Atrophin, a protein essential for development and control of cell polarity. We hypothesized that interactions between Fat1 and mammalian Atrophin (Atr) proteins might contribute to Fat1 effects on VSMCs. Like Fat1, mammalian Atr expression increased after arterial injury and in VSMCs stimulated with growth and chemotactic factors including angiotensin II, basic fibroblast growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor BB. Two distinct Atr2 transcripts, atr2L and atr2S, were identified by Northern analysis; in VSMCs, atr2S mRNA expression was more respon

SUBMITTER: Hou R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2652288 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature