Cadherin Diffusion in Supported Lipid Bilayers Exhibits Calcium-Dependent Dynamic Heterogeneity.

ABSTRACT: Ca²⁺ ions are critical to cadherin ectodomain rigidity, which is required for the activation of adhesive functions. Therefore, changes in Ca²⁺ concentration, both in vivo and in vitro, can affect cadherin conformation and function. We employed single-molecule tracking to measure the diffusion of cadherin ectodomains tethered to supported lipid bilayers at varying Ca²⁺ concentrations. At a relatively high Ca²⁺ concentration of 2 mM, cadherin molecules exhibited a fast diffusion coefficient that was identical to that of individual lipid molecules in the bilayer (D_fast ≈ 3 μm²/s). At lower Ca²⁺ concentrations, where cadherin molecules were less rigid, the ensemble-average cadherin diffusion coefficient was systematic

SUBMITTER: Cai Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5192687 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature