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PMID: 14706703 Published · ppublish English Journal Article

Biogenesis and function of mouse mammary epithelium depends on the presence of functional alpha-catenin.

Mechanisms of development ·Vol. 121 ·No. 1 ·2004-01-00 ·Pages 91-9

Nemade RV, Bierie B, Nozawa M, Bry C, Smith GH, Vasioukhin V, Fuchs E, Hennighausen L

Abstract

Alpha-catenin is a structural molecule and essential to the function of epithelial adherens junctions. Its role in the morphogenesis of mammary epithelium was explored using experimental mouse genetics. Since loss of alpha-catenin in mice leads to embryonic lethality, the alpha-catenin gene was flanked by loxP sites and inactivated in mammary epithelium using the WAP-Cre and MMTV-Cre transgenes. Loss of alpha-catenin arrested alveolar epithelial expansion. These cells lacked proper polarity and markers of functional differentiation, which resulted in impaired milk protein gene expression. Without alpha-catenin, increased epithelial cell death was observed at parturition and the tissue resembled an involuted gland that is normally observed after weaning. Lastly, no tumors were detected in mammary tissue lacking alpha-catenin.

MeSH Terms
Animals Cytoskeletal Proteins/physiology Epithelium/embryology,physiology Genes, Reporter Mammary Glands, Animal/embryology,physiology Mice Mice, Transgenic Milk Proteins/biosynthesis,genetics alpha Catenin
Chemicals
Ctnna1 protein, mouse Cytoskeletal Proteins Milk Proteins alpha Catenin
Authors & Affiliations
8 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Nemade Rashmi V
Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Building 8, Room 101, 8 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Bierie Brian
Nozawa Masahiro
Bry Celine
Smith Gilbert H
Vasioukhin Valera
Fuchs Elaine
Hennighausen Lothar
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Article Info
Journal
Mechanisms of development
Abbr.
Mech Dev
ISSN
0925-4773
DOI
10.1016/j.mod.2003.09.007
Published
2004-01-00
Pages
91-9
Language
English
Region
Ireland
NLM ID
9101218
PMCID
PMC2405923
Subset
IM
Grants
NIAMS NIH HHS · R01 AR027883-29 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2003.09.007 PMC Full Text View journal details
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