p120 catenin associates with kinesin and facilitates the transport of cadherin-catenin complexes to intercellular junctions

J Cell Biol. 2003 Nov 10;163(3):547-57. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200305137.

Abstract

p120 catenin (p120) is a component of adherens junctions and has been implicated in regulating cadherin-based cell adhesion as well as the activity of Rho small GTPases, but its exact roles in cell-cell adhesion are unclear. Using time-lapse imaging, we show that p120-GFP associates with vesicles and exhibits unidirectional movements along microtubules. Furthermore, p120 forms a complex with kinesin heavy chain through the p120 NH2-terminal head domain. Overexpression of p120, but not an NH2-terminal deletion mutant deficient in kinesin binding, recruits endogenous kinesin to N-cadherin. Disruption of the interaction between N-cadherin and p120, or the interaction between p120 and kinesin, leads to a delayed accumulation of N-cadherin at cell-cell contacts during calcium-initiated junction reassembly. Our analyses identify a novel role of p120 in promoting cell surface trafficking of cadherins via association and recruitment of kinesin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adherens Junctions / genetics
  • Adherens Junctions / metabolism*
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling / genetics
  • Catenins
  • Cell Adhesion / genetics*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Delta Catenin
  • Humans
  • Kinesins / genetics
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Protein Transport / genetics*
  • Transport Vesicles / metabolism
  • Transport Vesicles / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Catenins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Kinesins
  • Delta Catenin
  • CTNND1 protein, human