E-Cadherin negatively modulates delta-catenin-induced morphological changes and RhoA activity reduction by competing with p190RhoGEF for delta-catenin

δ-Catenin is a member of the p120-catenin subfamily of armadillo proteins. Here we describe istinctive features of δ-catenin localization and its association with E-cadherin in HEK293 epithelial ells. In HEK293 cells maintained in low cell densities approximately 15% of cells overexpressing ´-catenin showed dendrite-like process formation but there was no detectable change in RhoA ctivity. In addition δ-catenin was localized mainly in the cytoplasm and was associated with 190RhoGEF. However at high cell densities δ-catenin localization was shifted to the plasma embrane. The association of δ-catenin with E-cadherin was strengthened whereas its interaction ith p190RhoGEF was weakened. In mouse embryonic fibroblast cell ectopic expression of Ecadherin ecreased the effect of δ-catenin on the reduction of RhoA activity as well as on dendritelike rocess formation. These results suggest that δ-catenin is more dominantly bound to E-cadherin han to p190RhoGEF and that δ-catenin’s function is dependent on its cellular binding partner. Originally published Biochem Biophys Res Commun Vol. 377 No. 2 Dec 200