Small Jab1-containing subcomplex is regulated in an anchorage- and cell cycle-dependent manner, which is abrogated by ras transformation.

Jab1 interacts with a variety of cell cycle and signal transduction regulators to control cell proliferation, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. In this study, we employed a non-denaturing gel electrophoresis method to separate different Jab1-containing complexes, the COP9 signalosome complex and the small Jab1-containing subcomplex. The formation of the small Jab1 complex was dependent on a low cell density and anchorage to a solid support, and enhanced during the early G1 phase of the cell cycle, which was abrogated in ras-transformed cells. The small Jab1-containing subcomplex may be a novel mediator of anchorage and cell-cell contact-dependent signal transduction.