Structural basis of cell-cell adhesion by cadherins

L Shapiro, AM Fannon, PD Kwong, A Thompson… - Nature, 1995 - nature.com
L Shapiro, AM Fannon, PD Kwong, A Thompson, MS Lehmann, G Grübel, JF Legrand…
Nature, 1995nature.com
Crystal structures of the amino-terminal domain of N-cadherin provide a picture at the atomic
level of a specific adhesive contact between cells. A repeated set of dimer interfaces is
common to the structure in three lattices. These interactions combine to form a linear zipper
of molecules that mirrors the linear structure of the intracellular filaments with which
cadherins associate. This cell-adhesion zipper may provide a mechanism to marshal
individual molecular adhesive interactions into strong bonds between cells.
Abstract
Crystal structures of the amino-terminal domain of N-cadherin provide a picture at the atomic level of a specific adhesive contact between cells. A repeated set of dimer interfaces is common to the structure in three lattices. These interactions combine to form a linear zipper of molecules that mirrors the linear structure of the intracellular filaments with which cadherins associate. This cell-adhesion zipper may provide a mechanism to marshal individual molecular adhesive interactions into strong bonds between cells.
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