Direct binding of cell polarity protein PAR-3 to cell-cell adhesion molecule nectin at neuroepithelial cells of developing mouse

J Biol Chem. 2003 Feb 21;278(8):5497-500. doi: 10.1074/jbc.C200707200. Epub 2003 Jan 5.

Abstract

PAR-3 is a cell polarity protein that localizes at tight junctions (TJs) by direct binding to an immunoglobulin (Ig)-like cell-cell adhesion molecule JAM-1 in mammalian epithelial cells. Another Ig-like cell-cell adhesion molecule nectin plays a role in the localization of JAM-1 at TJs in epithelial cells. Nectin furthermore plays a role in the organization of adherens junctions (AJs) and TJs. Nectin comprises a family of four members, nectin-1, -2, -3, and -4. Nectins are associated with the actin cytoskeleton through afadin, of which the PDZ domain binds to nectins through their C-terminal four amino acids. We show here that PAR-3 binds to nectin-1 and -3 in neuroepithelial cells of the embryonic telencephalon, which are equipped with AJs, but not with typical TJs. Nectin-1, -2, -3, and afadin, but not JAM-1, were concentrated at AJs in neuroepithelial cells of the embryonic telencephalon at E13.5 and PAR-3 co-localized with nectins. PAR-3 was co-immunoprecipitated with nectin-1 and -3, but not with nectin-2 or JAM-1, from the mouse whole brain at E13.5. Recombinant PAR-3 stoichiometrically bound to recombinant nectin-1 and -3. The first one of the three PDZ domains of PAR-3 bound to the C-terminal four amino acids of nectin-1 and -3. The affinities of PAR-3 and afadin for nectin-1 and -3 were similar. Cadherin-deficient L cells expressing nectin-1 and -3 formed nectin-1- and -3-based cell-cell junctions, respectively, where PAR-3 as well as afadin was recruited. These results indicate that nectin-1 and -3 are involved in the localization of PAR-3 at AJs in the neuroepithelial cells of the embryonic telencephalon.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Brain / embryology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Polarity / physiology*
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology*
  • Epithelial Cells / ultrastructure
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Kinesins
  • L Cells
  • Mice
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Myosins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins*
  • Nestin
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Protein Binding
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Tight Junctions / physiology
  • Tight Junctions / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Afdn protein, mouse
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nes protein, mouse
  • Nestin
  • Pard3 protein, mouse
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • afadin
  • Myosins
  • Kinesins