N-cadherin/p120 catenin association at cell-cell contacts occurs in cholesterol-rich membrane domains and is required for RhoA activation and myogenesis

J Biol Chem. 2009 Aug 21;284(34):23137-45. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.017665. Epub 2009 Jun 22.

Abstract

p120 catenin is a major regulator of cadherin stability at cell-cell contacts and a modulator of Rho GTPase activities. In C2C12 myoblasts, N-cadherin is stabilized at cell contacts through its association with cholesterol-rich membrane domains or lipid rafts (LR) and acts as an adhesion-activated receptor that activates RhoA, an event required for myogenesis induction. Here, we report that association of p120 catenin with N-cadherin at cell contacts occurs specifically in LR. We demonstrate that interaction of p120 catenin with N-cadherin is required for N-cadherin association with LR and for its stabilization at cell contacts. LR disruption inhibits myogenesis induction and N-cadherin-dependent RhoA activation as does the perturbation of the N-cadherin-p120 catenin complex after p120 catenin knockdown. Finally, we observe an N-cadherin-dependent accumulation of RhoA at phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-enriched cell contacts which is lost after LR disruption. Thus, a functional N-cadherin-catenin complex occurs in cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains which allows the recruitment of RhoA and the regulation of its activity during myogenesis induction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Catenins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cholesterol / chemistry*
  • Delta Catenin
  • Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Intercellular Junctions / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Muscle Development / genetics
  • Muscle Development / physiology*
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Catenins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Cholesterol
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
  • Delta Catenin
  • Ctnnd1 protein, mouse