CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL TRANSCRIPT OF HUMAN EPITHELIAL CADHERIN

MATOS, MARÍA LAURA; LAPYCKYJ, LARA; GABRIELLI, NIEVES; REVENTOS, JAUME; ABAL, MIGUEL; VAZQUEZ-LEVIN, MÓNICA HEBE

Buenos Aires

Congreso; XI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología; 2008

Sociedad Argentina de Biología

Introduction: Epithelial cadherin (Ecad) is a 120 KDa transmembraneglycoprotein involved in cell-cell adhesion. Changes in its expressionhave been related to tumor development. To the present time only Ecadvariant forms have been identified from genomic mutations associated tocancer. We have previously reported the identification of a novel EcadmRNA (Ecad-var). Objetives: To characterize the expression of Ecad-var inin vitro models and to assess its levels in normal/tumoral tissues.Methods & Results: 1) In silico analysis indicate that Ecad-var mRNA wouldresult from alternative splicing 2) Translation of the Ecad-var transcriptin transfected cells renders a 94 kDa secretory protein 3) Cellstransfected with Ecad-var showed altered shape and adhesion, as well aslower growth and higher mortality rates 4) Ecad-var transcript levels arecontrolled by Nonsense Mediated Decay in MCF-7 cells, 5) Low levels ofEcad-var mRNA were detected (qRT-PCR) in all epithelial cells/tissuesevaluated 6) An increased in the cadE-var/cadE-wt (qRT-PCR) ratio wasfound in ovarian and endometrial tumors compared to controls. Conclusion:Changes in the expression of Ecad-var may relate to some cell alterationsassociated to tumor development.