Cadherin

By Jamshed Arslan Pharm.D.

CD31/PECAM-1, or platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1, is a 130-kDa glycoprotein expressed on vascular and hematopoietic cells.  Depending on the cell type, CD31/PECAM-1 expression can be largely localized to cell junctions, playing a role in cell adhesion.  Aside from its role in cellular adhesion, CD31/PECAM-1 is also a large player in a variety of signaling pathways, such as angiogenesis, cell migration, leukocyte transmigration and more.  Specifically, the association and indication of angiogenesis in breast cancer is of interest, given that extensive research shows an

Beta-catenin is a cytosolic, 88 kDa intracellular protein associated with cell surface cadherin glycoproteins. It is a member of the larger calcium-dependent catenin family that includes alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and gamma-catenin (also known as plakoglobin). Beta-catenin enters the nucleus to interact with TCF/LEF (Lymphoid enhancer factor-1) transcription factor family. It is normally inhibited by the GSK (glycogen synthase kinase) or CK1 (casein kinase 1) as phosphorylation of beta-catenin targets it for ubiquitin-mediated degradation.

Beta Catenin is a cytosolic, 88 kDa intracellular protein that tightly associates with cell surface cadherin glycoproteins. It is one member of the catenin family that includes alpha Catenin, beta Catenin, and gamma Catenin. Colocalization studies using beta-catenin antibodies demonstrate that beta-catenin is a crucial link between cytoplasmic, cytoskeletal actin and transmembrane cadherin for tight cell-to-cell adhesion (1,2).