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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Single-Molecule FRET Imaging for Observing the Conformational Dynamics of Dynamin-Like GTPase Atlastin
Published on: January 24, 2025
Alpha-E-catenin binds to dynamitin and regulates dynactin-mediated intracellular traffic
Wen-Hui Lien1, Vladimir I Gelfand, Valeri Vasioukhin
1Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
Abstract:
Alpha-epithelial catenin (E-catenin) is an important cell-cell adhesion protein. In this study, we show that alpha-E-catenin also regulates intracellular traffic by binding to the dynactin complex component dynamitin. Dynactin-mediated organelle trafficking is increased in alpha-E-catenin(-/-) keratinocytes, an effect that is reversed by expression of exogenous alpha-E-catenin. Disruption of adherens junctions in low-calcium media does not affect dynactin-mediated traffic, indicating that alpha-E-catenin regulates traffic independently from its function in cell-cell adhesion. Although neither the integrity of dynactin-dynein complexes nor their association with vesicles is affected by alpha-E-catenin, alpha-E-catenin is necessary for the attenuation of microtubule-dependent trafficking by the actin cytoskeleton. Because the actin-binding domain of alpha-E-catenin is necessary for this regulation, we hypothesize that alpha-E-catenin functions as a dynamic link between the dynactin complex and actin and, thus, integrates the microtubule and actin cytoskeleton during intracellular trafficking.
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