Cooperativity between trans and cis interactions in cadherin-mediated junction formation

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1011247107
• Publication Date: 2010-09-28T04:45:52Z
• Authors: Yinghao Wu; Xiangshu Jin; Oliver Harrison; Lawrence Shapiro; Barry H. Honig; Avinoam Ben-Shaul
• Keywords: Adherens junction; Cooperativity; Lattice (music); Cooperative binding

Intercellullar junctions formed by cadherins, including desmosomes and adherens junctions, comprise two dimensional arrays of “ trans ” dimers between monomers emanating from opposing cell surfaces. Lateral cis interfaces cadherins the same surface have been proposed to play a role in cadherin clustering. Although molecular details interactions remain uncertain, they must define an anisotropic arrangement where binding is favorable only certain orientations. Here we report Monte Carlo simulations performed on 2D lattice constructed account for anisotropy interactions. A crucial finding that “phase transition” freely diffusing condensed ordered junction alone cooperative process involving both Moreover, interactions, despite being too weak be measured solution, are critical formation structure. We discuss these results light available experimental information free energies transformed their bulk solution values interaction lattice.