α-catenin structure and nanoscale dynamics in solution and in complex with F-actin

As a core component of the adherens junction, α-catenin stabilizes the cadherin/catenin complexes to the actin cytoskeleton for the mechanical coupling of cell-cell adhesion. α-catenin also modulates actin dynamics, cell polarity and cell migration functions that are independent of the adherens junction. We have determined the solution structures of the α-catenin monomer and dimer, respectively, using in-line size-exclusion chromatography small-angle X-ray scattering (SEC-SAXS), as well as the structure of α-catenin dimer in complex to F-actin filament using selective deuteration and contrast-matching small angle neutron scattering (SANS).

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