Plakophilin 2 affects cell migration by modulating focal adhesion dynamics and integrin protein expression.

ABSTRACT: Plakophilin 2 (PKP2), a desmosome component, modulates the activity and localization of the small GTPase RhoA at sites of cell-cell contact. PKP2 regulates cortical actin rearrangement during junction formation, and its loss is accompanied by an increase in actin stress fibers. We hypothesized that PKP2 may regulate focal adhesion dynamics and cell migration. Here we show that PKP2-deficient cells bind efficiently to the extracellular matrix, but upon spreading display total cell areas ≈ 30% smaller than control cells. Focal adhesions in PKP2-deficient cells are ≈ 2 × larger and more stable than in control cells, and vinculin displays an increased time for fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Furthermore, β4 and β1 integrin protein and mRNA expression is elevated in PKP2-silenced ce

SUBMITTER: Koetsier JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4216696 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature