N-Cadherin Mouse, Unlabeled, Clone: 32, BD

Description

• Cadherins are a family of Ca 2+ ;-dependent intercellular adhesion molecules that play a central role in controlling morphogenetic movements during development
• Their function is regulated by association with the actin cytoskeleton by a complex of cytoplasmic proteins called the catenins (α, β, γ)
• Members of the cadherin family include P-cadherin, E-cadherin (uvomorulin), N-cadherin (neural cadherin), R-cadherin, cadherin 5, L-CAM, and EP-cadherin
• N-cadherin mRNA is found at elevated levels in brain and heart and at a much lower level in liver
• Mechanisms such as mRNA expression, cytokine modulation, and protease-mediated turnover modulate N-cadherin protein levels during development
• In addition, N-cadherin function is indirectly regulated by endogenous kinases and phosphatases
• Tyrosine phosphorylation of β-catenin complexed with N-cadherin results in dissociation of N-cadherin from actin
• However, N-cadherin also interacts with a PTP1B-like phosphatase that dephosphorylates β-catenin and promotes N-cadherin/actin association
• Thus, N-cadherin is an integral adhesion molecule whose function is regulated by protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events
• Immunofluorescence, Western Blotting