Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 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

DDR1/E-cadherin complex regulates the activation of DDR1 and cell spreading

Chau-Zen Wang1, Yi-Chun Yeh, Ming-Jer Tang

  • 1Department of Physiology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology
|May 29, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Epithelial (cell) cadherin (E-cadherin) negatively regulates discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) activity and cell spreading by sequestering DDR1 at cell junctions, preventing collagen binding.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) 1 and 2 are collagen receptors that control cell adhesion and behavior.
  • The adhesion-dependent regulation of DDR signaling pathways, particularly involving adhesion proteins, remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate a novel mechanism of adhesion-dependent regulation of DDR1 signaling.
  • To investigate the cross-talk between DDR1 and E-cadherin in controlling cell adhesion and spreading.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence E-cadherin expression.
  • Investigated the formation of protein complexes between DDR1 and E-cadherin.
  • Assessed DDR1 activity and cell spreading in epithelial cells with and without E-cadherin.

Main Results:

  • E-cadherin forms complexes with DDR1 isoforms (a and b) independently of DDR1 activation and catenin binding.
  • E-cadherin negatively and adhesion-dependently regulates DDR1 activity and DDR1-suppressed cell spreading.
  • E-cadherin silencing restores DDR1 activity, DDR1-suppressed cell spreading, and DDR1 localization in epithelial cells.

Conclusions:

  • E-cadherin-mediated adhesions decrease DDR1 activity by sequestering DDR1 to cell junctions.
  • This sequestration prevents DDR1 interaction with its collagen ligand, thereby eliminating DDR1-suppressed cell spreading.
  • A novel cross-talk mechanism between DDR1 and E-cadherin regulates cell adhesion and behavior in epithelial cells.

More Related Videos

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy05:50

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy

Published on: November 1, 2021

Dendrimer-based Uneven Nanopatterns to Locally Control Surface Adhesiveness: A Method to Direct Chondrogenic Differentiation14:46

Dendrimer-based Uneven Nanopatterns to Locally Control Surface Adhesiveness: A Method to Direct Chondrogenic Differentiation

Published on: January 20, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Structure of Cadherins01:25

Structure of Cadherins

The cadherins were one of the first cell adhesion molecules discovered; the term “cadherins”   is based on their calcium-dependent adhering properties. The first cadherins discovered on the epithelial, neuronal, and placental cells were named E-cadherin, P-cadherin, and N-cadherin, respectively. These classical cadherins share sequence and structural similarities. Other cadherins, including those involved in cell signaling, are grouped into non-classical cadherins. This diversity of cadherins...
Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Catenins01:23

Catenins

Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...