Epithelial cell adhesion and development of cell surface polarity: possible mechanisms for modulation of cadherin function, organization and distribution.
Epithelial cell adhesion is principally regulated by calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins, termed cadherins. Recent studies indicate that cadherin function is modulated by a class of proteins, termed catenins, that bind to the cytoplasmic domain of cadherin. Here we review the evidence that catenins regulate cadherin function in cell-cell adhesion, and discuss their role in initiating cell surface polarity in epithelial cells.
Näthke
I S
IS
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5426.
Hinck
L E
LE
Nelson
W J
WJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins