N-cadherin-catenin complexes form prior to cleavage of the proregion and transport to the plasma membrane

James K Wahl, Young J. Kim, Janet M. Cullen, Keith R Johnson, Margaret J. Wheelock

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cadherins are calcium-dependent glycoproteins that function as cell-cell adhesion molecules and are linked to the actin cytoskeleton via catenins. Newly synthesized cadherins contain a prosequence that must be proteolytically removed to generate a functional adhesion molecule. The goal of this study was to examine the proteolytic processing of N-cadherin and the assembly of the cadherin-catenin complex in cells that express endogenous N-cadherin. A monoclonal antibody specific for the proregion of human N-cadherin was generated and used to examine N-cadherin processing. Our data show that newly synthesized proN-cadherin is phosphorylated and proteolytically processed prior to transport to the plasma membrane. In addition, we show that β-catenin and plakoglobin associate only with phosphorylated proN-cadherin, whereas p120ctn can associate with both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated proN-cadherin. Immunoprecipitations using anti-proN-cadherin showed that cadherin-catenin complexes are assembled prior to localization at the plasma membrane. These data suggest that a core N-cadherin-catenin complex assembles in the endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi compartment and is transported to the plasma membrane where linkage to the actin cytoskeleton can be established.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)17269-17276
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume278
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - May 9 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'N-cadherin-catenin complexes form prior to cleavage of the proregion and transport to the plasma membrane'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this