The ins and outs of E-cadherin trafficking.
One way of controlling the activity of E-cadherin--a protein that is, simultaneously, a major cell-adhesion molecule, a powerful tumour suppressor, a determinant of cell polarity and a partner to the potent catenin signalling molecules--is to keep it on the move. During the past two decades, many insights into the fundamental role of E-cadherin in these processes have been garnered. Studies during the past five years have begun to reveal the importance of intracellular trafficking as a means of regulating the functions of E-cadherin. E-cadherin is trafficked to and from the cell surface by exocytic and multiple endocytic pathways. In this article, we survey the vesicle-trafficking machinery that is responsible for the sorting, transport, actin association and vesicle targeting of E-cadherin to regulate its movement and function during growth and development and, possibly, in cancer.
Institute for Molecular Bioscience and School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
David M
DM
Bryant
Jennifer L
JL
Stow
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology
D015820:Cadherins