N-cadherin extracellular repeat 4 mediates epithelial to mesenchymal transition and increased motility

J. B. Kim, S. Islam, Y. J. Kim, R. S. Prudoff, K. M. Sass, M. J. Wheelock, K. R. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

183 Scopus citations

Abstract

E- and N-cadherin are members of the classical cadherin family of proteins. E-cadherin plays an important role in maintaining the normal phenotype of epithelial cells. Previous studies from our laboratory and other laboratories have shown that inappropriate expression of N-cadherin by tumor cells derived from epithelial tissue results in conversion of the cell to a more fibroblast-like cell, with increased motility and invasion. Our present study was designed to determine which domains of N-cadherin make it different from E-cadherin, with respect to altering cellular behavior, such as which domains are responsible for the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and increased cell motility and invasion. To address this question, we constructed chimeric cadherins comprised of selected domains of E- and N-cadherin. The chimeras were transfected into epithelial cells to determine their effect on cell morphology and cellular behavior. We found that a 69-amino acid portion of EC-4 of N-cadherin was necessary and sufficient to promote both an epithelial to mesenchymal transition in squamous epithelial cells and increased cell motility. Here, we show that different cadherin family members promote different cellular behaviors. In addition, we identify a novel activity that can be ascribed to the extracellular domain of N-cadherin.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1193-1205
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Cell Biology
Volume151
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 11 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cancer
  • E-cadherin
  • Invasion
  • Motility
  • N-cadherin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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