E-cadherin differentially regulates the assembly of Connexin43 and Connexin32 into gap junctions in human squamous carcinoma cells.

ABSTRACT: It is as yet unknown how the assembly of connexins (Cx) into gap junctions (GJ) is initiated upon cell-cell contact. We investigated whether the trafficking and assembly of Cx43 and Cx32 into GJs were contingent upon cell-cell adhesion mediated by E-cadherin. We also examined the role of the carboxyl termini of these Cxs in initiating the formation of GJs. Using cadherin and Cx-null cells, and by introducing Cx43 and Cx32, either alone or in combination with E-cadherin, our studies demonstrated that E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion was neither essential nor sufficient to initiate GJ assembly de novo in A431D human squamous carcinoma cells. However, E-cadherin facilitated the growth and assembly of preformed GJs composed of Cx43, although the growth of cells on Transwell filters was r

SUBMITTER: Chakraborty S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2856283 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature