Premium
Identification of PKCζII: an endogenous inhibitor of cell polarity
Author(s) -
Parkinson Scott J,
Good J Anne Le,
Whelan Richard DH,
Whitehead Phil,
Parker Peter J
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600023
Subject(s) - library science , classics , sociology , history , computer science
A new member of the atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) family, designated PKCζII, is identified in this study. The gene contains no introns and is 98% homologous with the cDNA encoding PKCζ. The PKCζII coding region is frame‐shifted with respect to the PKCζ open reading frame, resulting in expression of an aPKC regulatory domain without associated kinase activity. PKCζII mRNA is detected in various mouse tissues and an immunoreactive 45 kDa protein is present in epithelial cell cultures. PKCζII is shown to interact with the Par6 protein and functions in the development of cell polarity. HC11 epithelial cells express PKCζII and are maintained in a nondifferentiated state characterised by the absence of tight junctions and cell overgrowth. HC11 cells harbouring a PKCζII‐specific RNAi, recruit ZO‐1 and other tight junction markers to cell–cell boundaries and adopt a monolayer phenotype in the presence of growth factors. The data demonstrate a regulatory role for PKCζII in the maintenance of cell transformation and the development of cell polarity.