Figure 1.

Depolymerization of microtubules attenuates disassembly of the AJC in calcium-depleted SK-CO-15 cells. In fully polarized SK-CO-15 cells cultured at normal concentration of extracellular calcium, AJ proteins E-cadherin and β-catenin and TJ proteins occludin and ZO-1 are localized at areas of cell-cell junctions producing a characteristic 'chicken wire' pattern. In vehicle treated cells, 1 h of calcium depletion leads to translocation of junctional proteins from areas of cell-cell contacts into centrally-located ring-like structures. The microtubule-depolymerizing agent nocodazole (30 μM) prevents disassembly of the AJC and cytosolic translocation of junctional proteins. Bar, 10 μm.