E-cadherin and plakoglobin recruit plakophilin3 to the cell border to initiate desmosome assembly

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2011 Apr;68(8):1439-54. doi: 10.1007/s00018-010-0531-3. Epub 2010 Sep 23.

Abstract

A decrease in the levels of the desmosomal plaque protein, plakophilin3 (PKP3), leads to a decrease in desmosome size and cell-cell adhesion. To test the hypothesis that PKP3 is required for desmosome formation, the recruitment of desmosomal components to the cell surface was studied in the PKP3 knockdown clones. The PKP3 knockdown clones showed decreased cell border staining for multiple desmosomal proteins, when compared to vector controls, and did not form desmosomes in a calcium switch assay. Further analysis demonstrated that PKP3, plakoglobin (PG) and E-cadherin are present at the cell border at low concentrations of calcium. Loss of either PG or E-cadherin led to a decrease in the levels of PKP3 and other desmosomal proteins at the cell border. The results reported here are consistent with the model that PG and E-cadherin recruit PKP3 to the cell border to initiate desmosome formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Line
  • Desmosomes / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Plakophilins / genetics
  • Plakophilins / metabolism*
  • gamma Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Plakophilins
  • gamma Catenin