Figure 2

Immunofluorescence localization of pan-cadherin (panel a), alpha-catenin (panel b), and beta-catenin (panel c) in the LI90 cells cultured on glass-cover-slip in the bottom of culture dishes. Nuclei of the cultured cells were counterstained with propidium iodide (panel a–d). The cultured cells were examined with an LSM as described under Materials and Methods. Strong immunofluorescence for pan-cadherin was observed at the sites of intercellular contact (arrows in panel a) or peripheral portion of the cells. Immunofluorescence for alpha-catenin was observed in the cell processes (arrows in panel b). Immunofluorescence for beta-catenin was clearly observed as discontinuous dot-like labeling where the cultured cells overlapped one another (arrows in panel c). As a control, some cultured cells grown on glass-bottom dishes were prepared with omission of the primary antibodies from the staining procedure. In these control specimens, fluorescence of Alexa Fluor 488 was completely negative in the cultured cells, although fluorescence of propidium iodide was clearly observed in the nuclei of the cells (panel d). Bar = 100 –m.