Search citation statements
Paper Sections
Citation Types
Year Published
Publication Types
Relationship
Authors
Journals
The complex formed by the β-catenin and α-catenin adaptor proteins acts as a molecular bridge that enables E-cadherin-based cell–cell adhesion assembly and maintenance in the epithelial tissue. This occurs through the interaction between the intracellular domain of E-cadherin and β-catenin on the one hand and between F-actin and α-catenin on the other hand. In addition to its role in cell–cell adhesion formation, it has been reported that E-cadherin mediates breast cancer cell metastasis to distant organs. Therefore, development of biomaterials such as peptides with ability to modulate the interaction between β-catenin and α-catenin presents an opportunity to modulate cell–cell adhesion. Here, we have performed computational and experimental analysis to develop β-catenin-derived peptides with the ability to bind α-catenin. Specifically, we analyzed the available β- and α-catenin complex structure and identified residues on β-catenin having potential to form new interactions upon mutation. We tested the wild-type (WT) and mutant β-catenin-derived peptides for their binding to α-catenin using conventional and steered molecular dynamics simulations, revealing an increased interaction of P128E and M131E mutant peptides. We then designed a Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET)-based assay to monitor binding of the β-catenin-derived peptides with α-catenin, which revealed similar binding affinities of the WT and mutant β-catenin-derived peptides. Further, expression of the WT and the M131E mutant peptide resulted in a change in the aspect ratio of the cells suggestive of their ability to affect cell–cell adhesion. We envisage that the β-catenin-derived peptides engineered here will find application in blocking the interaction between β-catenin and α-catenin and, thus, modulate E-cadherin adhesion, which may lead to potential therapeutic avenue in abrogating E-cadherin-mediated metastasis of invasive breast cancer cells.
The complex formed by the β-catenin and α-catenin adaptor proteins acts as a molecular bridge that enables E-cadherin-based cell–cell adhesion assembly and maintenance in the epithelial tissue. This occurs through the interaction between the intracellular domain of E-cadherin and β-catenin on the one hand and between F-actin and α-catenin on the other hand. In addition to its role in cell–cell adhesion formation, it has been reported that E-cadherin mediates breast cancer cell metastasis to distant organs. Therefore, development of biomaterials such as peptides with ability to modulate the interaction between β-catenin and α-catenin presents an opportunity to modulate cell–cell adhesion. Here, we have performed computational and experimental analysis to develop β-catenin-derived peptides with the ability to bind α-catenin. Specifically, we analyzed the available β- and α-catenin complex structure and identified residues on β-catenin having potential to form new interactions upon mutation. We tested the wild-type (WT) and mutant β-catenin-derived peptides for their binding to α-catenin using conventional and steered molecular dynamics simulations, revealing an increased interaction of P128E and M131E mutant peptides. We then designed a Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET)-based assay to monitor binding of the β-catenin-derived peptides with α-catenin, which revealed similar binding affinities of the WT and mutant β-catenin-derived peptides. Further, expression of the WT and the M131E mutant peptide resulted in a change in the aspect ratio of the cells suggestive of their ability to affect cell–cell adhesion. We envisage that the β-catenin-derived peptides engineered here will find application in blocking the interaction between β-catenin and α-catenin and, thus, modulate E-cadherin adhesion, which may lead to potential therapeutic avenue in abrogating E-cadherin-mediated metastasis of invasive breast cancer cells.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.