File Download
  Links for fulltext
     (May Require Subscription)
Supplementary

Article: Is the cadherin/catenin complex a functional unit of cell-cell actin-based adherens junctions in the rat testis?

TitleIs the cadherin/catenin complex a functional unit of cell-cell actin-based adherens junctions in the rat testis?
Authors
KeywordsSertoli cells
Spermatogenesis
Testis
Issue Date2003
PublisherSociety for the Study of Reproduction. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.biolreprod.org/
Citation
Biology Of Reproduction, 2003, v. 68 n. 2, p. 489-508 How to Cite?
AbstractMuch controversy exists regarding the presence of the cadherin/catenin complex and its intracellular attachment site in the testis, which is the functional unit for actin-based cell-cell adherens junctions (AJs) in multiple epithelia. Furthermore, whether germ and Sertoli cells are equipped with the necessary AJ-associated signaling molecules to regulate this cadherin/catenin complex during spermatogenesis is not known. In the present study, it was shown that both Sertoli and germ cells indeed express N-cadherin, E-cadherin, α-catenin, β-catenin, and p120ctn by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. Furthermore, the assembly of AJs between Sertoli and germ cells was associated with a transient induction in the steady-state mRNA and protein levels of cadherins and catenins. These analyses reveal, to our knowledge for the first time, that the testis may indeed be using the cadherin/catenin complex as one of the functional units to regulate AJ dynamics between Sertoli and germ cells in addition to α6β1, integrin and the nectin/afadin complex. To further confirm the existence of such a complex between Sertoli and germ cells, immunoprecipitation experiments were performed using Sertoligerm cell lysates during AJ assembly. An anti-N-cadherin antibody can pull out β-catenin, whereas N-cadherin can also be pulled out using an anti-β-catenin antibody. To further expand and validate these in vitro biochemical studies, immunofluorescent histochemistry was performed, which colocalized N-cadherin and β-catenin to the same site of Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-germ cell AJs, possibly ectoplasmic specializations near the basal compartment, at the lower third of the seminiferous epithelium in vivo as well as between Sertoli cells cultured in vitro. Furthermore, studies by cross-linking using dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate) confirmed that the cadherin/catenin complex between Sertoli cells as well as between Sertoli and germ cells indeed structurally linked to actin but not to vimentin (an intermediate filament protein) or to tubulin (a microtubule protein). These results thus unequivocally demonstrate that the cadherin/catenin complex, which can be up-regulated by testosterone, is indeed present between Sertoli and germ cells and is used for the assembly of functional AJs.
Persistent Identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/84719
ISSN
2023 Impact Factor: 3.1
2023 SCImago Journal Rankings: 1.022
ISI Accession Number ID
References

 

DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorLee, NPYen_HK
dc.contributor.authorMruk, Den_HK
dc.contributor.authorLee, WMen_HK
dc.contributor.authorCheng, CYen_HK
dc.date.accessioned2010-09-06T08:56:19Z-
dc.date.available2010-09-06T08:56:19Z-
dc.date.issued2003en_HK
dc.identifier.citationBiology Of Reproduction, 2003, v. 68 n. 2, p. 489-508en_HK
dc.identifier.issn0006-3363en_HK
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/84719-
dc.description.abstractMuch controversy exists regarding the presence of the cadherin/catenin complex and its intracellular attachment site in the testis, which is the functional unit for actin-based cell-cell adherens junctions (AJs) in multiple epithelia. Furthermore, whether germ and Sertoli cells are equipped with the necessary AJ-associated signaling molecules to regulate this cadherin/catenin complex during spermatogenesis is not known. In the present study, it was shown that both Sertoli and germ cells indeed express N-cadherin, E-cadherin, α-catenin, β-catenin, and p120ctn by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. Furthermore, the assembly of AJs between Sertoli and germ cells was associated with a transient induction in the steady-state mRNA and protein levels of cadherins and catenins. These analyses reveal, to our knowledge for the first time, that the testis may indeed be using the cadherin/catenin complex as one of the functional units to regulate AJ dynamics between Sertoli and germ cells in addition to α6β1, integrin and the nectin/afadin complex. To further confirm the existence of such a complex between Sertoli and germ cells, immunoprecipitation experiments were performed using Sertoligerm cell lysates during AJ assembly. An anti-N-cadherin antibody can pull out β-catenin, whereas N-cadherin can also be pulled out using an anti-β-catenin antibody. To further expand and validate these in vitro biochemical studies, immunofluorescent histochemistry was performed, which colocalized N-cadherin and β-catenin to the same site of Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-germ cell AJs, possibly ectoplasmic specializations near the basal compartment, at the lower third of the seminiferous epithelium in vivo as well as between Sertoli cells cultured in vitro. Furthermore, studies by cross-linking using dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate) confirmed that the cadherin/catenin complex between Sertoli cells as well as between Sertoli and germ cells indeed structurally linked to actin but not to vimentin (an intermediate filament protein) or to tubulin (a microtubule protein). These results thus unequivocally demonstrate that the cadherin/catenin complex, which can be up-regulated by testosterone, is indeed present between Sertoli and germ cells and is used for the assembly of functional AJs.en_HK
dc.languageengen_HK
dc.publisherSociety for the Study of Reproduction. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.biolreprod.org/en_HK
dc.relation.ispartofBiology of Reproductionen_HK
dc.subjectSertoli cellsen_HK
dc.subjectSpermatogenesisen_HK
dc.subjectTestisen_HK
dc.subject.meshActins - metabolism-
dc.subject.meshAdherens Junctions - physiology-
dc.subject.meshAnimals-
dc.subject.meshCadherins - metabolism-
dc.subject.meshTestis - cytology - physiology-
dc.titleIs the cadherin/catenin complex a functional unit of cell-cell actin-based adherens junctions in the rat testis?en_HK
dc.typeArticleen_HK
dc.identifier.openurlhttp://library.hku.hk:4550/resserv?sid=HKU:IR&issn=0006-3363&volume=68&issue=2&spage=489&epage=508&date=2003&atitle=Is+the+cadherin/catenin+complex+a+functional+unit+of+cell-cell+actin-based+adherens+junctions+in+the+rat+testis?++en_HK
dc.identifier.emailLee, NPY: nikkilee@hku.hken_HK
dc.identifier.emailLee, WM: hrszlwm@hku.hken_HK
dc.identifier.authorityLee, NPY=rp00263en_HK
dc.identifier.authorityLee, WM=rp00728en_HK
dc.description.naturelink_to_OA_fulltext-
dc.identifier.doi10.1095/biolreprod.102.005793en_HK
dc.identifier.pmid12533412-
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-0037306844en_HK
dc.identifier.hkuros111185en_HK
dc.identifier.hkuros81137en_US
dc.identifier.hkuros140003en_US
dc.relation.referenceshttp://www.scopus.com/mlt/select.url?eid=2-s2.0-0037306844&selection=ref&src=s&origin=recordpageen_HK
dc.identifier.volume68en_HK
dc.identifier.issue2en_HK
dc.identifier.spage489en_HK
dc.identifier.epage508en_HK
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000180644200018-
dc.publisher.placeUnited Statesen_HK
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridLee, NPY=7402722690en_HK
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridMruk, D=6701823934en_HK
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridLee, WM=24799156600en_HK
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridCheng, CY=7404797787en_HK
dc.identifier.issnl0006-3363-

Export via OAI-PMH Interface in XML Formats


OR


Export to Other Non-XML Formats