biostudies-literatureUnknown14Mukai A<h4>Background</h4>Previous research indicates that the membrane ruffles and leading edge of lamellipodia of myogenic cells contain presumptive fusion sites. A micrometer-sized lipid raft (microraft) is organized at the presumptive fusion site of mouse myogenic cells in a cell-contact independent way and serves as a platform tethering adhesion proteins that are relevant to cell fusion. However, the mechanisms underlying recruitment of adhesion proteins to lipid rafts and microraft organization remain unknown.<h4>Results</h4>Here we show that small G-protein Rac1 was required for microraft organization and subsequent cell fusion. However, Rac1 activity was unnecessary for recruitment of M-cadherin to lipid rafts. We found that p120 catenin (p120) binds to M-cadherin exclusively in lipid rafBMC cell biology37https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3846853biostudies-literatureRegulation of pre-fusion events: recruitment of M-cadherin to microrafts organized at fusion-competent sites of myogenic cells.PMC3846853Mukai AHashimoto NfalseRegulation of pre-fusion events: recruitment of M-cadherin to microrafts organized at fusion-competent sites of myogenic cells.<h4>Background</h4>Previous research indicates that the membrane ruffles and leading edge of lamellipodia of myogenic cells contain presumptive fusion sites. A micrometer-sized lipid raft (microraft) is organized at the presumptive fusion site of mouse myogenic cells in a cell-contact independent way and serves as a platform tethering adhesion proteins that are relevant to cell fusion. However, the mechanisms underlying recruitment of adhesion proteins to lipid rafts and microraft organization remain unknown.<h4>Results</h4>Here we show that small G-protein Rac1 was required for microraft organization and subsequent cell fusion. However, Rac1 activity was unnecessary for recruitment of M-cadherin to lipid rafts. We found that p120 catenin (p120) binds to M-cadherin exclusively in lipid raf2013-01-01T00:00:00Z2013 Aug2025-04-04T12:27:08.691Z2019-03-27T03:09:34ZS-EPMC38468532397824310.1186/1471-2121-14-37