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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Jun 7.
Published in final edited form as: Cell. 2005 Dec 2;123(5):903–915. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2005.09.021

Figure 7. Model of α-Catenin Function in Regulating Actin Dynamics and Organization.

Figure 7

Initial cell-cell contact is mediated by interactions of cadherins present on the membranes of lamellipodia. Clustering of cadherins at the nascent contacts leads to accumulation of cadherin-catenin complexes. A high local concentration of α-catenin is produced when it dissociates from these complexes. α-catenin, which exists as monomer or homodimer, competes with Arp2/3 complex for actin filaments (the dimer more potently than the monomer), thereby suppressing Arp2/3-mediated actin assembly that drives lamellipodia. α-catenin also bundles actin filaments, which may contribute to the reorganization of actin in the mature contact.