Down-regulation of desmosomes in cultured cells: the roles of PKC, microtubules and lysosomal/proteasomal degradation.

ABSTRACT: Desmosomes are intercellular adhesive junctions of major importance for tissue integrity. To allow cell motility and migration they are down-regulated in epidermal wound healing. Electron microscopy indicates that whole desmosomes are internalised by cells in tissues, but the mechanism of down-regulation is unclear. In this paper we provide an overview of the internalisation of half-desmosomes by cultured cells induced by calcium chelation. Our results show that: (i) half desmosome internalisation is dependent on conventional PKC isoforms; (ii) microtubules transport internalised half desmosomes to the region of the centrosome by a kinesin-dependent mechanism; (iii) desmosomal proteins remain colocalised after internalisation and are not recycled to the cell surface; (iv) internalised desm

SUBMITTER: McHarg S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4188543 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature