Cells expressing of plakophilin-3 mutants display decreased desmosomal adhesion and increased migration compared to cells expressing wild type plakophilin-3.

<p>Desmosomal adhesion was measured using the dispase adhesion assay. Cells expressing wild type plakophilin-3 and plakophilin-3 mutants (ΔSL and S285A) were compared to control A431 cells (panels A and B). Expression of myc tagged plakophilin-3 and plakophilin-3 mutants in A431 cells were verified by immunoblot analysis of cell lysates from each stable cell line. Immunoblot of the lysates with anti-beta tubulin is shown as a loading control (panel C). Cell migration was measured by observing the time required to fill a cell free gap generated by a silicone insert. The identical field of view was imaged every hour for 16 hours and the percent area unfilled was calculated (panel D).