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Xenopus paraxial protocadherin has signaling functions and is involved in tissue separation
Author(s) -
Medina Araceli,
Swain Rajeeb K,
Kuerner KlausMichael,
Steinbeisser Herbert
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.7600329
Subject(s) - biology , xenopus , protocadherin , microbiology and biotechnology , paraxial approximation , computational biology , genetics , cadherin , gene , physics , cell , optics , beam (structure)
Protocadherins have homophilic adhesion properties and mediate selective cell–cell adhesion and cell sorting. Knockdown of paraxial protocadherin (PAPC) function in the Xenopus embryo impairs tissue separation, a process that regulates separation of cells of ectodermal and mesodermal origin during gastrulation. We show that PAPC can modulate the activity of the Rho GTPase and c‐jun N‐terminal kinase, two regulators of the cytoskeletal architecture and effectors of the planar cell polarity pathway. This novel signaling function of PAPC is essential for the regulation of tissue separation. In addition, PAPC can interact with the Xenopus Frizzled 7 receptor, and both proteins contribute to the development of separation behavior by activating Rho and protein kinase Cα.