Cadherins are transmembrane proteins that mediate adhesion between cells in the solid tissues of animals. Here we present the 3.1 angstrom resolution crystal structure of the whole, functional extracellular domain from C-cadherin, a representative "classical" cadherin. The structure suggests a molecular mechanism for adhesion between cells by classical cadherins, and it provides a new framework for understanding both cis (same cell) and trans (juxtaposed cell) cadherin interactions. The trans adhesive interface is a twofold symmetric interaction defined by a conserved tryptophan side chain at the membrane-distal end of a cadherin molecule from one cell, which inserts into a hydrophobic pocket at the membrane-distal end of a cadherin molecule from the opposing cell.

The extracellular homophilic-binding domain of the cadherins consists of 5 cadherin repeats (EC1–EC5). Studies on cadherin specificity have implicated the NH2-terminal EC1 domain in the homophilic binding interaction, but the roles of the other extracellular cadherin (EC) domains have not been evaluated. We have undertaken a systematic analysis of the binding properties of the entire cadherin extracellular domain and the contributions of the other EC domains to homophilic binding.Lateral (cis) dimerization of the extracellular domain is thought to be required for adhesive function. Sedimentation analysis of the soluble extracellular segment of C-cadherin revealed that it exists in a monomer–dimer equilibrium with an affinity constant of ∼64 μM. No higher order oligomers were detected, indicating that homophilic binding between cis-dimers is of significantly lower affinity.The homophilic binding properties of a series of deletion constructs, lacking successive or individual EC domains fused at the COOH terminus to an Fc domain, were analyzed using a bead aggregation assay and a cell attachment–based adhesion assay. A protein with only the first two NH2-terminal EC domains (CEC1-2Fc) exhibited very low activity compared with the entire extracellular domain (CEC1-5Fc), demonstrating that EC1 alone is not sufficient for effective homophilic binding. CEC1-3Fc exhibited high activity, but not as much as CEC1-4Fc or CEC1-5Fc. EC3 is not required for homophilic binding, however, since CEC1-2-4Fc and CEC1-2-4-5Fc exhibited high activity in both assays. These and experiments using additional EC combinations show that many, if not all, the EC domains contribute to the formation of the cadherin homophilic bond, and specific one-to-one interaction between particular EC domains may not be required. These conclusions are consistent with a previous study on direct molecular force measurements between cadherin ectodomains demonstrating multiple adhesive interactions (Sivasankar, S., W. Brieher, N. Lavrik, B. Gumbiner, and D. Leckband. 1999. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 96:11820–11824; Sivasankar, S., B. Gumbiner, and D. Leckband. 2001. Biophys J. 80:1758–68). We propose new models for how the cadherin extracellular repeats may contribute to adhesive specificity and function.

The structures of many cell surface adhesion proteins comprise multiple tandem repeats of structurally similar domains. In many cases, the functional significance of this architecture is unknown, and there are several cases in which evidence for individual domain involvement in adhesion has been contradictory. In particular, the extracellular region of the adhesion glycoprotein cadherin consists of five tandemly arranged domains. One proposed mechanism postulated that adhesion involves only trans interactions between the outermost domains. However, subsequent investigations have generated several competing models. Here we describe direct measurements of the distance-dependent interaction potentials between cadherin mutants lacking different domains. By quantifying both the absolute distances at which opposed cadherin fragments bind and the quantized changes in the interaction potentials that result from deletions of individual domains, we demonstrate that two domains participate in homophilic cadherin binding. This finding contrasts with the current view that cadherins bind via a single, unique site on the protein surface. The potentials that result from interactions involving multiple domains generate a novel, modular binding mechanism in which opposed cadherin ectodomains can adhere in any of three antiparallel alignments.

The RET gene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase whose function is essential during the development of kidney and the intestinal nervous system. Germline mutations aecting one of ®ve cysteines (Cys609, 611, 618, 620 and 634) located in the juxtamembrane domain of the RET receptor are responsible for the vast majority of two cancer-prone disorders, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). These mutations lead to the replacement of a cysteine by an alternate amino acid. Mutations of the RET gene are also the underlying genetic cause of Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), a congenital aganglionosis of the hindgut. In a fraction of kindreds, MEN 2A cosegregate with HSCR and aected individuals carry a single mutation at codons 609, 618 or 620. To examine the consequences of cysteine substitution on RET function, we have introduced a Cys to Arg mutation into the wild-type RET at either codons 609, 618, 620, 630 or 634. We now report that each mutation induces a constitutive catalytic activity due to the aberrant disul®de homodimerization of RET. However, mutations 630 and 634 activate RET more strongly than mutations 609, 618 or 620 as demonstrated by quantitative assays in rodent ®broblasts and pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Biochemical analysis revealed that mutations 618 and 620, and to a lesser extent mutation 609, result in a marked reduction of the level of RET at the cell surface and as a consequence decrease the amount of RET covalent dimer. These ®ndings provide a molecular basis explaining the range of phenotype engendered by alterations of RET cysteines and suggest a novel mechanism whereby mutations of cysteines 609, 618 and 620 exert both activating and inactivating eects.Keywords: MEN 2; Hirschsprung disease; RET receptor; tyrosine kinase IntroductionMutations in the RET proto-oncogene, which encodes a transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase, cause two inherited neural crest disorders: multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) and Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). Recent studies have provided evidence that RET is a component of a multi-subunit complex which acts as a receptor for the Glial cell-line Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) and for neurturin, two homologous members of the transforming growth factor b (TGF-b) family (reviewed in Lindsay and Yancopoulos, 1996. For references see Milbrandt et al., 1998). GDNF and neurturin-binding require accessory receptors called GFRa-1 and GFRa-2 that associate with RET and are anchored to the plasma membrane via a glycosyl ± phosphatidylinositol linkage (reviewed in Lindsay and Yancopoulos, 1996. For references see Milbrandt et al., 1998). Mice homozygous for a disruptive mutation either in the RET or the GDNF gene show renal agenesis or dysgenesis of the kidneys and lack the intestinal nervous system (reviewed in Lindsay and Yancopoulos, 1996). These results indicate that RET and GDNF play a critical role during renal organogenesis and are required for the development of a subset of vagal neural crest cells.MEN 2 is a f...