Leaving the neighborhood: molecular mechanisms involved during epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
Several molecular mechanisms contribute directly and mechanically to the loss of epithelial phenotype. During epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), adherens junctions and desmosomes are at least partially dissociated. At the same time, a massive cytoskeleton reorganization takes place, involving the rho family and the remodeling of the actin microfilament mesh. Numerous pathways have been described in vitro that control phenotype transition in specific cell models. In vivo developmental studies suggest that transcriptional control, activated by a specific pathway involving Ras, Src and potentially the Wnt pathway, is an essential step. Recent functional and localization experiments indicate that the slug/snail family of transcription factors functions overall as an epithelial phenotype repressor and could represent a key EMT contributor.
Savagner
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P
Equipe Genome et Cancer, UMR CNRS 5535, CRLC Val d'Aurelle-Paul Larmarque, 34298 Montpellier, cedex 5, France. psavagner@valdorel.fnclcc.fr
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D003896:Desmosomes; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D051176:beta Catenin; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins