The E-cadherin/epidermal growth factor receptor interaction: a hypothesis of reciprocal and reversible control of intercellular adhesion and cell proliferation.
The E-cadherin/catenin complex is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule, whose function is critical to the integrity of the adherens junction and which plays a role in the establishment and maintenance of normal epithelial morphology and differentiation. Loss of E-cadherin-mediated adhesion appears to be a fundamental aspect of the neoplastic phenotype which in some cases appears to be mediated by post-translational modifications (i.e. tyrosine phosphorylation) of its interacting proteins, the catenins which link E-cadherin to the actin cytoskeleton. There is increasing experimental evidence to suggest that epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine phosphorylation may lead to the inactivation of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in cancer cells through its interaction with beta- or gamma-catenin in the cytoskeleton. Modulation of epidermal growth factor receptor activity by pharmacological agents has the potential to regulate a variety of cellular processes including adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation.
Jawhari
A U
AU
Farthing
M J
MJ
Pignatelli
M
M
D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans
D015820:Cadherins; D066246:ErbB Receptors