Characterization of p120ctn, an Adherens Junction Protein With a Potential Role in Tumorigenesis and Cancer Metastasis
Abstract
I have begun a characterization of A Drosophila homolog of the vertebrate adherens junction component, p120ctn. This protein is believed to play a role in the down-regulation of cell adhesion seen in metastatic cells. I have found that Dp120ctn binds to the first 41 amino acids of the cytoplasmic domain of DE-Cadherin. I also demonstrated that 6-catenin, a human p120 family member, binds to the same region of a vertebrate E-Cadherin. Antibodies that I have raised to the fly protein recognize a set of bands migrating between 90 and 100 kDA. These antisera also outline cell membranes in developing embryos. I identified four deficiencies that remove the Dp 12Octn gene, and have used one of them in a non-complementation screen of EMS mutagenized flies to isolate Dp120ctn mutants. 200 of the resulting lines are currently being analyzed to identify which represent Dp12Octn mutants.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA384065
Entities
People
- Robert A. Cavallo
Organizations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill