| Structural highlights
Function
CTNA2_MOUSE May function as a linker between cadherin adhesion receptors and the cytoskeleton to regulate cell-cell adhesion and differentiation in the nervous system. Regulates morphological plasticity of synapses and cerebellar and hippocampal lamination during development. Functions in the control of startle modulation.[1] [2] [3]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
alpha-catenin is an actin- and vinculin-binding protein that regulates cell-cell adhesion by interacting with cadherin adhesion receptors through beta-catenin, but the mechanisms by which it anchors the cadherin-catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton at adherens junctions remain unclear. Here we determined crystal structures of alphaE-catenin in the autoinhibited state and the actin-binding domain of alphaN-catenin. Together with the small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of full-length alphaN-catenin, we deduced an elongated multidomain assembly of monomeric alpha-catenin that structurally and functionally couples the vinculin- and actin-binding mechanisms. Cellular and biochemical studies of alphaE- and alphaN-catenins show that alphaE-catenin recruits vinculin to adherens junctions more effectively than alphaN-catenin, partly owing to its higher affinity for actin filaments. We propose a molecular switch mechanism involving multi-state conformational changes of alpha-catenin. This would be driven by actomyosin-generated tension to dynamically regulate the vinculin-assisted linkage between adherens junctions and the actin cytoskeleton.
An Autoinhibited Structure of alpha-catenin and Its Implications for Vinculin Recruitment to Adherens Junctions.,Ishiyama N, Tanaka N, Abe K, Yang YJ, Abbas YM, Umitsu M, Nagar B, Bueler SA, Rubinstein JL, Takeichi M, Ikura M J Biol Chem. 2013 Apr 15. PMID:23589308[4]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
See Also
References
- ↑ Park C, Falls W, Finger JH, Longo-Guess CM, Ackerman SL. Deletion in Catna2, encoding alpha N-catenin, causes cerebellar and hippocampal lamination defects and impaired startle modulation. Nat Genet. 2002 Jul;31(3):279-84. Epub 2002 Jun 24. PMID:12089526 doi:10.1038/ng908
- ↑ Togashi H, Abe K, Mizoguchi A, Takaoka K, Chisaka O, Takeichi M. Cadherin regulates dendritic spine morphogenesis. Neuron. 2002 Jul 3;35(1):77-89. PMID:12123610
- ↑ Abe K, Chisaka O, Van Roy F, Takeichi M. Stability of dendritic spines and synaptic contacts is controlled by alpha N-catenin. Nat Neurosci. 2004 Apr;7(4):357-63. Epub 2004 Mar 21. PMID:15034585 doi:10.1038/nn1212
- ↑ Ishiyama N, Tanaka N, Abe K, Yang YJ, Abbas YM, Umitsu M, Nagar B, Bueler SA, Rubinstein JL, Takeichi M, Ikura M. An Autoinhibited Structure of alpha-catenin and Its Implications for Vinculin Recruitment to Adherens Junctions. J Biol Chem. 2013 Apr 15. PMID:23589308 doi:10.1074/jbc.M113.453928
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