Control of Carcinoma Cell Motility by E-Cadherin
Abstract
Tumor invasion is a major obstacle to effective clinical management of breast cancer. To identify new targets for anti-invasive therapies, we have focused on the mechanisms by which the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin suppresses tumor invasion. A related cadherin, N-cadherin, does not suppress cell movement, even though it is as effective as E-cadherin at mediating adhesion. We have exploited this difference between E- and N-cadherin to define the region of E-cadherin required for suppression of movement. By constructing and analyzing a series of chimeric cadherins, consisting of parts of E- and N-cadherin, we localized the key region of E-cadherin to a region consisting of the transmembrane segment and a small portion of the cytoplasmic domain. We are analyzing components that bind specifically to this region. Further, we identified two components that are tyrosine phosphorylated after E-cadherin contact, but determined they play no role in suppression of motility.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA403381
Entities
People
- Robert W. Brackanbury
Organizations
- University of Cincinnati