Recognition, calcium and the control of desmosome formation

Since desmosome formation requires the participation of two adjacent cells, a crucial initiating event must be recognition between desmosomal adhesion molecules. Studies of mutual desmosome formation between different cell types suggest that the recognition mechanisms are highly conserved between different tissues and different species of animals. A further requirement for desmosome formation is an adequate extracellular concentration of Ca2+ (greater than 0.1 mM). Keratinocytes, MDCK cells and MDBK cells all show Ca2+-induced desmosome formation. The desmosomes of these cells also show variable stability to reduction in [Ca2+] and Ca2+ chelation. Desmosome formation at low [Ca2+] is triggered by tunicamycin in keratinocytes, suggesting that the carbohydrate moieties of desmosomal glycoproteins may be involved in the Ca2+ control mechanism. The desmosomal glycoproteins appear to bind Ca2+, while the desmosomal adhesion molecules known as desmocollins, like other Ca2+-dependent adhesion molecules, yield a soluble fragment on trypsinization in the presence of Ca2+. For desmocollins the soluble fragment has a relative molecular mass of 42,000.