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Epithelial (E)-cadherin-mediated cell-cell junctions play important roles in the development and maintenance of tissue structure in multicellular organisms. E-cadherin adhesion is thus a key element of the cellular microenvironment that provides both mechanical and biochemical signaling inputs. Here, we report in vitro reconstitution of junction-like structures between native E-cadherin in living cells and the extracellular domain of E-cadherin (E-cad-ECD) in a supported membrane. Junction formation in this hybrid live cell-supported membrane configuration requires both active processes within the living cell and a supported membrane with low E-cad-ECD mobility. The hybrid junctions recruit α-catenin and exhibit remodeled cortical actin. Observations suggest that the initial stages of junction formation in this hybrid system depend on the trans but not the cis interactions between E-cadherin molecules, and proceed via a nucleation process in which protrusion and retraction of filopodia play a key role.

Original publication

DOI

10.1073/pnas.1513775112

Type

Journal article

Journal

Proc natl acad sci u s a

Publication Date

01/09/2015

Volume

112

Pages

10932 - 10937

Keywords

adhesion, bilayer, cadherin, diffusion, nucleation, Biophysics, Cadherins, Cell Line, Cytoskeleton, Humans, Intercellular Junctions, Kinetics, Lipid Bilayers, Signal Transduction