Alpha-epithelial catenin (E-catenin) is an important cell-cell adhesion protein. In this study, we show that alpha-E-catenin also regulates intracellular traffic by binding to the dynactin complex component dynamitin. Dynactin-mediated organelle trafficking is increased in alpha-E-catenin(-/-) keratinocytes, an effect that is reversed by expression of exogenous alpha-E-catenin. Disruption of adherens junctions in low-calcium media does not affect dynactin-mediated traffic, indicating that alpha-E-catenin regulates traffic independently from its function in cell-cell adhesion. Although neither the integrity of dynactin-dynein complexes nor their association with vesicles is affected by alpha-E-catenin, alpha-E-catenin is necessary for the attenuation of microtubule-dependent trafficking by the actin cytoskeleton. Because the actin-binding domain of alpha-E-catenin is necessary for this regulation, we hypothesize that alpha-E-catenin functions as a dynamic link between the dynactin complex and actin and, thus, integrates the microtubule and actin cytoskeleton during intracellular trafficking.
Pubmed ID: 19075109 RIS Download
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Cell line HEK293-FT is a Transformed cell line with a species of origin Homo sapiens (Human)
View all literature mentionsCell line HEK293-FT is a Transformed cell line with a species of origin Homo sapiens (Human)
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