vation of the type 1 histamine (H1) or the type 2 protease-activated (PAR-2) G protein-coupled receptors interrupts E-cadherin adhesion and decreases the transepithelial resistance (TER) of epithelium. Several reports suggest that cadherin adhesive function depends on the association of cadherin with -catenin and that this association is regulated by phosphorylation of tyrosines in -catenin. We tested the hypothesis that loss of cadherin adhesion and compromise of TER on activation of the H1 or PAR-2 receptor is due to phosphorylation of tyrosines in -catenin. L cells were stably transfected to express E-cadherin (L-E-cad cells) and H1 (L-H1-E-cad cells). L cells and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells constitutively express PAR-2. Stably transfected L-E-cad, L-H1-E-cad, and MDCK cells were also stably transfected with FLAG-tagged wild-type (WT) or mutant -catenin, converting tyrosine 142, 489, or 654 to the nonphosphorylatable mimetic, phenylalanine (WT, Y142F, Y489F, or Y654F). Activation of H1 or PAR-2 interrupted adhesion to an immobilized E-cadherin-Fc fusion protein of L-H1-E-cad, L-E-cad, and MDCK cells expressing WT or Y142F -catenin but did not interrupt adhesion of L-H1-E-cad, L-E-cad, and MDCK cells expressing the Y489F or Y654F mutant -catenins. PAR-2 activation decreased the TER of monolayers of MDCK cells expressing WT or Y142F -catenin 40 -45%. However, PAR-2 activation did not decrease the TER of monolayers of MDCK cells expressing Y489F or Y654F -catenin. The protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B binds to the cadherin cytoplasmic domain and dephosphorylates -catenin. Inhibition of PTP1B interrupted adhesion to E-cadherin-Fc of MDCK cells expressing WT -catenin but did not affect the adhesion of MDCK cells expressing Y489F or Y654F -catenin. Similarly, inhibition of PTP1B compromised the TER of MDCK cells expressing WT -catenin but did not affect the TER of MDCK cells expressing Y489F or Y654F -catenin. We conclude that phosphorylation of tyrosines 489 and 654 in -catenin is a necessary step in the process by which G protein-coupled H1 and PAR-2 receptors interrupt Ecadherin adhesion. We also conclude that activation of PAR-2 has no effect on the TER without first interrupting E-cadherin adhesion.AIRWAY EPITHELIA CREATE an important barrier between the tissues of the lung and the environment. This barrier is dependent on molecules that bind the epithelial cells to each other and to molecules of the tight junction that act as resistors to paracellular molecular traffic. E-cadherin mediates calciumdependent homotypic cell-cell adhesion in epithelia. We (24, 27) previously reported that activation of the type 1 histamine (H1) or the type 2 protease-activated receptor (PAR-2) decreased the transepithelial resistance (TER) of airway epithelium by interrupting E-cadherin adhesion. In these reports, activation of the H1 or PAR-2 receptor interrupted E-cadherindependent adhesion of E-cadherin expressing L cells and of primary airway epithelium to immobilized E-cadherin. Activation of H1 or ...