Fine structural immunocytochemistry of catenins in amphibian and mammalian muscle

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Thomas Kurth - , Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology (Autor:in)
  • H Schwarz - (Autor:in)
  • S Schneider - , Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology (Autor:in)
  • P Hausen - (Autor:in)

Abstract

In adherens junctions, alpha- and beta-catenin serve to link cadherins to the cortical cytoskeleton. Immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy have been applied to elucidate the nature and localization of cadherin/catenin-mediated cell-cell adhesion sites in adult muscle tissues. Antibodies against alpha- and beta-catenin have been used as indicators of such sites in amphibian and mammalian muscle. Intercalated discs are prominent cell-cell adhesion sites in heart muscle. They contain large amounts of the two catenins, the distributions of which are disclosed. In addition and in contrast to their counterparts in guinea pig, cardiomyocytes of Xenopus are also interconnected laterally by catenin-containing cell-cell junctions. These are doublet structures that approach the intercellular contacts of two adjacent cells from both sides and occur in register with the Z-discs. We interpret these structures as catenin/cadherin-based costameres. Ultrastructural details of these structures are described. In addition to its presence in cell-cell adhesion sites, we have found beta-catenin, but not alpha-catenin, in the Z-discs of heart and skeletal striated muscles. In smooth muscle, actin filaments insert into the dense bodies, which are therefore regarded as functional equivalents of the Z-discs. Accordingly, beta-catenin is also found in these structures, again in the absence of alpha-catenin. These non-peripheral intracellular localizations in the Z-discs of striated muscles and the dense bodies of smooth muscle indicate a hitherto unknown function of beta-catenin in these specialized cells.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)1-12
Seitenumfang12
FachzeitschriftCell and tissue research
Jahrgang286
Ausgabenummer1
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Okt. 1996
Peer-Review-StatusJa
Extern publiziertJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 0029988291
ORCID /0000-0001-5624-1717/work/142239043

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Animals, Antibody Specificity, Biomarkers, Cadherins/analysis, Cell Adhesion/physiology, Cytoskeletal Proteins/analysis, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Immunohistochemistry, Microscopy, Immunoelectron, Microtomy, Muscle, Skeletal/chemistry, Muscle, Smooth/chemistry, Myocardium/chemistry, Rabbits, Sarcolemma/chemistry, Trans-Activators, Xenopus Proteins, Xenopus laevis, alpha Catenin, beta Catenin