Researchers at University of Helsinki, Haartman Institute target cell biology
2007 NOV 20 -- Research findings, 'Densin and beta-catenin form a complex and co-localize in cultured podocyte cell junctions,' are discussed in a new report. According to recent research from Helsinki, Finland, "Densin is a member of LAP (leucine-rich repeat and PDZ domain) protein family that localizes in kidney to slit diaphragms, which are essential components of the glomerular filtration barrier. We have previously shown that densin interacts with a crucial slit diaphragm protein, nephrin." "Here, we searched for novel binding partners of densin by yeast-two hybrid assay and identified beta-catenin. The interaction was confirmed by reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation assay and the binding site in densin was determined by GST-pull down assays. The GST-tagged densin was also able to pull down P-cadherin together with beta-catenin from human kidney glomerular lysates. Furthermore, densin co-localized with beta-catenin and F-actin in cell-cell contacts in cultured mouse podocytes. During cell-cell contact disruption and reformation densin and beta-catenin were dislocated from and relocated back to plasma membrane in a similar fashion," wrote E. Heikkil- and colleagues, University of Helsinki, Haartman Institute. The researchers concluded: "These and our previous findings suggest that densin may associate with the cadherin-catenin and nephrin complex(es), and may be involved in the formation of the cell-cell contacts including the slit diaphragm." Heikkil- and colleagues published their study in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (Densin and beta-catenin form a complex and co-localize in cultured podocyte cell junctions. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 2007;305(1-2):9-18). For additional information, contact E. Heikkil-, University of Helsinki, Dept. of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, Helsinki, Finland. Publisher contact information for the journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry is: Kluwer Academic Publ, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands. Keywords: Finland, Helsinki, Cell Biology, Cellular Biochemistry. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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