The role of junctional adhesion molecule-A in cancer cell migration and morphology
| Author(s) | Van Nort, Shawn | |
| Date Accessioned | 2014-06-12T14:05:38Z | |
| Date Available | 2014-06-12T14:05:38Z | |
| Publication Date | 2013 | |
| Abstract | The cell adhesion molecule (CAM) family of proteins is a large group of proteins that are typically transmembrane proteins used in the attachment of the cell to another cell or to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Junctional adhesion molecule A (JAM-A) is a member of the CAM family that has recently been identified to have a role in various cancers. Currently there is conflicting data for JAM-A in breast cancer concerning the role of JAM-A in cellular migration. Using the highly metastatic cell line MDA-MB- 231, the aim for this study was to determine JAM-A’s role in the migration of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and to start to determine the mechanism by which JAM-A may be contributing. Through transfection of the MDA-MB-231 cells with full length JAM-A, cytoplasmic deletion JAM-A (Δ257 JAM-A) and tyrosine to phenylalanine 261 JAM-A (Y-F261 JAM-A), this study shows that full length JAM-A decreased the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells and surprisingly Y-F261JAM-A along with Δ257 JAM-A further decreased migration in transfected cells. Using immunofluorescence it was determined that JAM-A localized at the cell-to-cell adhesions between the transfected MDA-MB-231 cells and contributed to a more epithelial like morphology overall. Also through immunofluorescence, it was shown that transfection with full length JAM-A, Δ257 JAM-A and Y-F261 JAM-A increased the cell-to-cell adhesions. These findings make JAM-A an interesting protein to examine in the migration and metastasis of metastatic breast cancer. | en_US |
| Advisor | Naik, Ulhas P. | |
| Degree | M.S. | |
| Department | University of Delaware, Department of Biological Sciences | |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/13041 | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | en_US |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Cell adhesion molecules. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Cancer cells -- Motility. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Cells -- Morphology. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Breast -- Cancer. | |
| Title | The role of junctional adhesion molecule-A in cancer cell migration and morphology | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |