What does alpha catenin do?
α-Catenin is an F-actin-binding protein and vinculin homologue and has been long appreciated to play an indispensible role in cell–cell adhesion by forming an essential link between the cadherin/β-catenin and the underlying actin cytoskeleton (Maiden & Hardin, 2011).
What is the difference between alpha catenin and beta catenin?
The first two catenins that were identified became known as α-catenin and β-catenin. α-Catenin can bind to β-catenin and can also bind filamentous actin (F-actin). β-Catenin binds directly to the cytoplasmic tail of classical cadherins. Additional catenins such as γ-catenin and δ-catenin have been identified.
What is ΑE?
αE-catenin, also known as Catenin alpha-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CTNNA1 gene. αE-catenin is highly expressed in cardiac muscle and localizes to adherens junctions at intercalated disc structures where it functions to mediate the anchorage of actin filaments to the sarcolemma.
Where are Catenins located?
The majority of β-catenin is located at the cytoplasmic side of the membrane as a component of cadherin-based cell–cell connections in the absence of a Wnt stimulus.
What is the function of vinculin?
Vinculin is a cytoskeletal protein associated with cell-cell and cell-matrix junctions, where it is thought to function as one of several interacting proteins involved in anchoring F-actin to the membrane.
What is the function of E-cadherin?
E-cadherin is involved in the maintenance and the homeostasis of the normal adult epithelial tissue structure and integrity (van Roy and Berx 2008). As previously mentioned, its function lies primarily in the formation of adherens junctions.
Where are adhesion junctions found?
Adherens junctions (or zonula adherens, intermediate junction, or “belt desmosome”) are protein complexes that occur at cell–cell junctions, cell–matrix junctions in epithelial and endothelial tissues, usually more basal than tight junctions.
Is beta catenin a transcription factor?
β-Catenin is a crucial transcriptional factor in Wingless–Int (Wnt) signaling, and plays important role in stem cell renewal and organ regeneration [56]. Aberrant expression of β-catenin induces malignant transformation of normal cells, and its abnormal activity has been reported in many cancer types [57].
What does B catenin do?
Catenin beta-1, also known as β-catenin, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CTNNB1 gene. β-catenin is a dual function protein, involved in regulation and coordination of cell–cell adhesion and gene transcription.
What genes does beta catenin regulate?
β-catenin target genes have been implicated in regulating different cellular processes including proliferation (e.g., MYC, CCND1, PPARD), stem cell fate (ASCL2), survival (ABCB1, BIRC5), differentiation (ID2, ITF2, ENC1), migration (MMP7, MMP14), and angiogenesis (VEGF) [4–18].
Is E-cadherin positive good or bad?
Conclusions: The findings support the evidence that high expression values of E-cadherin are not predictive for a good prognosis and may help to explain conflicting evidence on the prognostic impact of E-cadherin in breast cancer when assessed on dichotomic basis.