Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics
Published on: March 26, 2018
The RhoGAP protein Deleted in Liver Cancer 3 (DLC3) is essential for adherens junctions integrity
G Holeiter1, A Bischoff, A C Braun
1Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
Abstract:
Epithelial cell-cell contacts are mediated by E-cadherin interactions, which are regulated by the balanced local activity of Rho GTPases. Despite the known function of Rho at adherens junctions (AJs), little is known about the spatial control of Rho activity at these sites. Here we provide evidence that in breast epithelial cells the Deleted in Liver Cancer 3 (DLC3) protein localizes to AJs and is essential for E-cadherin function. DLC3 is a still poorly characterized RhoA-specific GTPase-activating protein that is frequently downregulated in various types of cancer. We demonstrate that DLC3 depletion leads to mislocalization of E-cadherin and catenins, which was associated with impaired cell aggregation and increased migration. This is explained by aberrant local Rho signaling because ROCK inhibition restored cell-cell contacts in DLC3 knockdown cells. We thus identify DLC3 as a novel negative regulator of junctional Rho and propose that DLC3 loss contributes to carcinogenesis by compromising epithelial integrity.
Related Concept Videos
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Adherens Junctions
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
The Ras Gene
Ras is a superfamily...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
Laminins are the Adhesive Proteins of Basal Lamina
In humans, the five forms of alpha chains are LAMA 1, LAMA 2, LAMA 3, LAMA 4, and LAMA 5. The four forms of beta chains are LAMB 1, LAMB 2, LAMB 3, and LAMB 4. The three forms of gamma...

