Abstract
Plakoglobin (γ-catenin) is a member of the Armadillo family of proteins and a homolog of β-catenin. As a component of both the adherens junctions and desmosomes, plakoglobin plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion. Furthermore, similar to β-catenin, plakoglobin is capable of participating in cell signaling. However, unlike β-catenin that has well-documented oncogenic potential through its involvement in the Wnt signaling pathway, plakoglobin generally acts as a tumor/metastasis suppressor. The exact roles that plakoglobin plays during tumorigenesis and metastasis are not clear; however, recent evidence suggests that it may regulate gene expression, cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration. In this paper, we describe plakoglobin, its discovery and characterization, its role in regulating cell-cell adhesion, and its signaling capabilities in regulation of tumorigenesis and metastasis.
Highlights
Plakoglobin is a member of the Armadillo family of proteins and a structural and functional homolog of β-catenin
We have focused on the potential roles of plakoglobin during tumorigenesis and metastasis in an attempt to define how this often overlooked protein contributes to these complex processes
Another significant role for plakoglobin in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion was discovered when studies showed that A431 epithelial cells treated with dexamethasone were unable to form desmosomes upon exogenous expression of E- or Pcadherin, despite the formation of the adherens junction in these cells [39]
Summary
Plakoglobin ( known as γ-catenin) is a member of the Armadillo family of proteins and a structural and functional homolog of β-catenin These catenin proteins have two major roles in the cell: the mediation of cell-cell adhesion and cell signaling. As adhesive proteins, both β-catenin and plakoglobin interact with the cytoplasmic domain of cadherins, thereby tethering the cadherin proteins to the cytoskeleton. Both β-catenin and plakoglobin interact with the cytoplasmic domain of cadherins, thereby tethering the cadherin proteins to the cytoskeleton In addition to their cell-cell adhesive functions, both β-catenin and plakoglobin interact with a number of intracellular partners including signaling proteins and transcription factors, which accounts for their involvement in cellular signaling [1,2,3,4]. We have focused on the potential roles of plakoglobin during tumorigenesis and metastasis in an attempt to define how this often overlooked protein contributes to these complex processes
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