MDA-MB-231 has low expression of E-cadherin, so it's correct that you don't see much on your IF images. MDA-MB-231 is a cell line with a mesenchymal phenotype, i.e. cells do not form cell-cell contacts like MCF7s, and do not grow as epithelial clusters.

I'll have to look up some data to see what we found on N-cadherin using WB analysis; I can't remember by head what we found.

Dear Mr. Fokkelman, 

Thanks for your reply. However, my question is, is E-Cad and N-Cad stained rightly in the cell cytoplasm or would you consider this as non-specific binding?

I'm sorry, I haven't done any IF for E-Cad and N-Cad myself. I don't know if it's correct or non-specific. We've only looked at it on WB level with a panel of breast cancer cell lines.

I believe you should be able to find literature on this. 

best of luck!

Dear Mr. Fokkelman,

Unfortunately different literarure shows different results in different cell lines. Nevertheless, I appreciate your help. Thanks for your time. 

It seems that 231 does not express N-Cadherin. please see Paper attached. And I confirmed this by WB assay. Hope this is helpful.

Hi Udesh,

I just came across your question and thought about sharing my experience. We grow MDA-MB-231 cells in 3-dimensional organoid culture which we stain for E-cadherin. We do see E-cadherin as very weak cytoplasmic expression as opposed to cell-junction seen in mammary epithelial cells. So I think your observations are absolutely correct.