Regulation of N-cadherin-based cell-cell interaction by JSAP1 scaffold in PC12h cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Feb 9;353(2):357-62. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.12.029. Epub 2006 Dec 13.

Abstract

We previously reported that the level of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase-associated protein 1 (JSAP1), a scaffold protein for JNK signaling, increases dramatically during nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced differentiation of PC12h cells. In the present study, we investigated the function of JSAP1 during PC12h cell differentiation by knocking down the level of JSAP1. The depletion of JSAP1 caused NGF-treated PC12h cells to form aggregates and impaired their differentiation. The aggregation was not observed in JSAP1-depleted cells that were untreated or treated with epidermal growth factor. Immunocytochemical studies indicated that N-cadherin, but not E-cadherin, was localized to sites of cell-cell contact in the aggregated cells. Furthermore, an inhibitory anti-N-cadherin antibody completely blocked the aggregation. Taken together, these results suggest that JSAP1 regulates cell-cell interactions in PC12h cells specifically in the NGF-induced signaling pathway, and does so by modulating N-cadherin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Aggregation / drug effects
  • Cell Aggregation / physiology
  • Cell Communication / physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Nerve Growth Factor / pharmacology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • PC12 Cells
  • Rats

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cadherins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • MAPK8IP3 protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nerve Growth Factor