E-Cadherin negatively modulates delta-catenin-induced morphological changes and RhoA activity reduction by competing with p190RhoGEF for delta-catenin

Abstract

δ-Catenin is a member of the p120-catenin subfamily of armadillo proteins. Here, we describe distinctive features of δ-catenin localization and its association with E-cadherin in HEK293 epithelial cells. In HEK293 cells maintained in low cell densities, approximately 15% of cells overexpressing δ-catenin showed dendrite-like process formation, but there was no detectable change in RhoA activity. In addition, δ-catenin was localized mainly in the cytoplasm and was associated with p190RhoGEF. However, at high cell densities, δ-catenin localization was shifted to the plasma membrane. The association of δ-catenin with E-cadherin was strengthened, whereas its interaction with p190RhoGEF was weakened. In mouse embryonic fibroblast cell, ectopic expression of Ecadherin decreased the effect of δ-catenin on the reduction of RhoA activity as well as on dendritelike process formation. These results suggest that δ-catenin is more dominantly bound to E-cadherin than to p190RhoGEF, and that δ-catenin’s function is dependent on its cellular binding partner. Originally published Biochem Biophys Res Commun, Vol. 377, No. 2, Dec 2008