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BDNF/NT4‐5 receptor TrkB and cadherin participate in cell‐cell adhesion
Author(s) -
Zhou Hua,
Welcher Andrew A.,
Shooter Eric M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19970801)49:3<281::aid-jnr3>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - tropomyosin receptor kinase b , cadherin , neurotrophin , microbiology and biotechnology , transfection , cell adhesion molecule , cell adhesion , adhesion , low affinity nerve growth factor receptor , receptor , biology , cell culture , cell , chemistry , neurotrophic factors , biochemistry , genetics , organic chemistry
The neurotrophin receptor TrkB plays a key role in promoting cell survival and differentiation in the nervous system. Two adhesive motifs in the extracelluar domain of TrkB have been proposed based on its predicted secondary structure. To investigate the potential adhesive function of trkB, a full length trkB cDNA was stably transfected into NIH 3T3 cells and TrkB‐expressing clones isolated. Transfectant clones producing different levels of TrkB protein were subjected to a homotypic aggregation assay. Results showed that parental cells were non‐adhesive during the assay while TrkB‐expressing cells displayed varying degrees of aggregation depending on the amount of TrkB protein expressed. The observed adhesion was Ca 2+ ‐, Mg 2+ ‐, and temperature‐dependent, characteristics shared by the cadherin family of adhesion molecules. The transfected cell lines also expressed cadherin in proportion to TrkB expression and both molecules were required for cell adhesion. Double immunofluorescence staining studies showed that TrkB was colocalized with cadherin and catenin at cell‐cell contact sites. Whether TrkB and cadherin mediate adhesion separately or synergistically remains to be determined. J. Neurosci. Res. 49:281–291, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.