PTPu Regulates Cell Adhesion and Signaling in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to understand how cell adhesion-induced signals are transduced to negatively regulate cell growth and how this process is altered in prostate cancer. Extracellular events that regulate cell growth are transmitted by changes in tyrosine phosphorylation, which is controlled by protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Cancer causing genes encode PTKs that cause uncontrolled cell growth suggesting that PTPs play a role in negative growth regulation or function as tumor suppressors. Both cell adhesion molecules and tyrosine phosphorylation regulate contact inhibition of growth, i.e. when normal cells stop growing because they contact adjacent cells. Prostate cancer cells have defects in both cell adhesion and contact inhibition of growth. The receptor PTP, PTP mu, directly interacts with E-cadherin, the major cell-cell adhesion molecule in prostate cells. Loss of components of the cadherin pathway has previously been observed in prostate cancer cells. We recently demonstrated that PTPmu is no longer expressed in prostate cancer cells. Re-expression of PTPmu restores adhesion and negatively regulates cell growth. A detailed analysis of how PTPmu alters adhesion, cell growth and signal transduction is described and provides insights into both normal cell growth as well as malignant transformation in prostate cancer.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA392053

Entities

People

  • Susann-brady Kalnay

Organizations

  • Case Western Reserve University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amino Acids
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Cellular Structures
  • Chemistry
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Genetics
  • Intercellular Junctions
  • Medical Personnel
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neoplasms
  • Peptide Growth Factors
  • Peptides
  • Proteins

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

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  • Molecular Biology and Genetics