JNK regulates binding of alpha-catenin to adherens junctions and cell-cell adhesion.

ABSTRACT: We recently reported that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is associated with adherens junctions and phosphorylates ?-catenin at serine 33/37 and threonine 41. Here, we report that inhibition of JNK led to formation of adherens junctions, which was accompanied by dissociation of ?-catenin from the ?-catenin/E-cadherin complex and increased association of ?-catenin with the cytoskeleton. Conversely, activation of JNK increased binding of ?-catenin to ?-catenin, which was blocked by the JNK inhibitor SP600125 or JNK siRNA. In addition, inhibition of JNK failed to lead to adherens junction formation in cells where ?-catenin was absent or knocked down. Conversely, introduction of ?-catenin restored the responsiveness of cells to JNK inhibition and led to cell-cell adhesion. Experiments with domain deletion mutants showed that binding of ?-catenin to ?-catenin was required for transport of adherens junction complexes to the cell surface, while binding to actin was required for translocation to the cell-cell contact sites. Collectively, our results suggest that JNK affects the association of ?-catenin with the adherens junction complex and regulates adherens junctions.

SUBMITTER: Lee MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3023394 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature