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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
08:15

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Published on: October 17, 2014

A role for the cleaved cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin in the nucleus

Emma C Ferber1, Mihoko Kajita, Anthony Wadlow

  • 1University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|March 22, 2008
PubMed

Insights

The p120 catenin protein facilitates the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of the cleaved E-cadherin fragment (E-cad/CTF2). This interaction is crucial for regulating nuclear signaling pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Signaling
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Cell-cell contacts are crucial for intracellular signaling, but their molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
  • E-cadherin, a key cell adhesion molecule, is cleaved by gamma-secretase, releasing the E-cadherin C-terminal fragment 2 (E-cad/CTF2).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cellular fate and function of the E-cad/CTF2 fragment.
  • To elucidate the role of p120 catenin (p120) in the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of E-cad/CTF2.
  • To determine if E-cad/CTF2 influences nuclear signaling pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Coexpression of E-cad/CTF2 and p120.
  • Short interfering RNA (siRNA) to knockdown p120.
  • Analysis of nuclear translocation and DNA binding of E-cad/CTF2.
  • Investigation of the p120-Kaiso signaling pathway.

Main Results:

  • p120 enhances the nuclear translocation of E-cad/CTF2.
  • p120 is essential for the nuclear localization of E-cad/CTF2.
  • p120 promotes and is required for E-cad/CTF2 DNA binding.
  • E-cad/CTF2 regulates the p120-Kaiso signaling pathway in the nucleus.

Conclusions:

  • Cleaved E-cadherin (E-cad/CTF2) has a novel nuclear function.
  • p120 catenin plays a critical role in mediating the nuclear functions of E-cad/CTF2.
  • These findings reveal a new layer of complexity in cell-cell contact-mediated signaling.

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