Abstract
delta-Catenin associates with adhesive junctions and facilitates cellular morphogenesis (Lu et al., 1999). Here we show that delta-catenin colocalizes with actin filaments and Abl tyrosine kinase in the growth cones of cultured hippocampal neurons. PC12 cells induced to express delta-catenin show accelerated neurite extension upon nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulation. STI571, an Abl family kinase inhibitor, further accentuates these stimulatory effects. delta-Catenin is a potent substrate for Abl in vitro using an immunocomplex assay and most of the Abl-induced tyrosine phosphorylation within cells is present in the N-terminus of delta-catenin. When delta-catenin-expressing epithelial cells are induced to scatter in response to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), STI571 leads to the rapid redistribution of delta-catenin and changes in cellular morphology. We suggest that delta-catenin is a possible Abl substrate and acts downstream of Abl to orchestrate actin-based cellular morphogenesis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Actin Cytoskeleton / drug effects
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Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism
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Animals
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Armadillo Domain Proteins
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Brain / cytology
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Brain / embryology*
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Brain / enzymology*
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Catenins
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Cell Adhesion Molecules
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects
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Cell Differentiation / physiology*
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
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Delta Catenin
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Fetus
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Growth Cones / drug effects
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Growth Cones / metabolism*
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Growth Cones / ultrastructure
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Growth Substances / pharmacology*
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Immunohistochemistry
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Mice
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Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
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PC12 Cells
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Phosphoproteins
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Phosphorylation / drug effects
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / antagonists & inhibitors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / metabolism*
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Rats
Substances
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Armadillo Domain Proteins
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Catenins
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Cell Adhesion Molecules
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Growth Substances
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Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors
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Phosphoproteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl
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Delta Catenin