Switching of α-catenin from αE-catenin in the cortical ventricular zone to αN-catenin II in the intermediate zone

Although cadherins and catenins are known to play important roles during neural development, the types of a-catenin present in the developing telencephalon are still unknown. Here, we show that the ventricular zones (VZ) of the cortex and the ganglionic eminences express alpha E-catenin and alpha N-catenin, respectively, in a complementary manner. In the cortex, alpha-catenin is switched from alpha E-catenin in the VZ to alpha N-catenin II in the intermediate zone (IMZ). (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.