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Remodeling of E-cadherin subcellular localization during cell dissemination
Alejandra J H Cabrera1, Barry M Gumbiner1,2,3, Young V Kwon1
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.
Molecular Biology of the Cell
|March 29, 2023
Summary
E-cadherin (E-cad) is essential for the invasiveness of Ras-transformed intestinal cells in Drosophila. It localizes to invasive protrusions, facilitating extracellular matrix degradation and cell dissemination.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- E-cadherin (E-cad) typically maintains epithelial cell adhesion.
- Increased cell invasion is linked to decreased E-cad during metastasis.
- The role of E-cad in invasive processes is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of E-cadherin in the invasiveness of Ras-transformed intestinal epithelial cells in Drosophila.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying E-cad's function in cell invasion and dissemination.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Drosophila intestinal epithelial cell models.
- Observed E-cad/β-catenin localization during cell invasion.
- Assessed the impact of E-cad loss on invasive protrusion formation and ECM degradation.
Main Results:
- E-cadherin is necessary for the invasiveness of Ras-transformed intestinal epithelial cells.
- E-cad/β-catenin disassembles from adherens junctions and assembles at invasive protrusions.
- Loss of E-cad impairs invasive protrusion elongation and ECM breaching.
- E-cadherin and cortactin influence each other's localization to invasive protrusions.
Conclusions:
- E-cadherin functions as a component of invasive protrusions in Ras-transformed cells.
- E-cadherin regulates cell invasiveness by controlling cortactin localization.
- This study reveals an unconventional role for E-cadherin in promoting cell dissemination in vivo.
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