title: Nectin and afadin: novel organizers of intercellular junctions.
abstract: The cadherin superfamily plays key roles in intercellular adhesion. An emerging intercellular adhesion system, consisting of nectin and afadin, also has roles in organization of a variety of intercellular junctions either in cooperation with, or independently of, cadherin. Nectin is a Ca(2+)-independent immunoglobulin-like intercellular adhesion molecule, and afadin is a nectin- and actin-filament-binding protein that connects nectin to the actin cytoskeleton. This novel intercellular adhesion system has roles in the organization of E-cadherin-based adherens junctions and claudin-based tight junctions in epithelial cells. The adhesion system is furthermore involved in the formation of synapses in neurons and the organization of heterotypic junctions between Sertoli cells and spermatids in the testis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine/Faculty of Medicine, Suita 565-0871, Japan. ytakai@molbio.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D062445:Claudin-1; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016547:Kinesins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009218:Myosins; D000075983:Nectins
chemical_list: C095516:AFDN protein, human; C568108:CLDN1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D062445:Claudin-1; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D000075983:Nectins; C108835:afadin; D009218:Myosins; D016547:Kinesins