Conformational epitopes at cadherin calcium-binding sites and p120-catenin phosphorylation regulate cell adhesion.

ABSTRACT: We investigated changes in cadherin structure at the cell surface that regulate its adhesive activity. Colo 205 cells are nonadhesive cells with a full but inactive complement of E-cadherin-catenin complexes at the cell surface, but they can be triggered to adhere and form monolayers. We were able to distinguish the inactive and active states of E-cadherin at the cell surface by using a special set of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Another set of mAbs binds E-cadherin and strongly activates adhesion. In other epithelial cell types these activating mAbs inhibit growth factor-induced down-regulation of adhesion and epithelial morphogenesis, indicating that these phenomena are also controlled by E-cadherin activity at the cell surface. Both types of mAbs recognize conformational epitopes at di

SUBMITTER: Petrova YI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3364174 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature