Tumor suppressor function of laminin-binding alpha-dystroglycan requires a distinct beta3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase.

ABSTRACT: Alpha-dystroglycan (alpha-DG) represents a highly glycosylated cell surface molecule that is expressed in the epithelial cell-basement membrane (BM) interface and plays an essential role in epithelium development and tissue organization. The alpha-DG-mediated epithelial cell-BM interaction is often impaired in invasive carcinomas, yet roles and underlying mechanisms of such an impaired interaction in tumor progression remain unclear. We report here a suppressor function of laminin-binding glycans on alpha-DG in tumor progression. In aggressive prostate and breast carcinoma cell lines, laminin-binding glycans are dramatically decreased, although the amount of alpha-DG and beta-dystroglycan is maintained. The decrease of laminin-binding glycans and consequent increased cell migration were as

SUBMITTER: Bao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2707272 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature