title: Adhesion proteins and the control of cell shape.
abstract: The adherens junction functions to connect epithelial cells and maintain their polarized architecture. The geometry of the adherens junction, and consequently the shape of a cell, appears to reach an energetically favorable state. Cadherins within the adherens junction are necessary for cells to achieve this state. However, the view of an adherens junction as a static structure is at odds with the highly dynamic properties of epithelia during development. Interactions between the actin cytoskeleton and the adherens junction are required for certain cell shape changes. Recent insights into adherens junction remodeling have revealed the importance of polarized localization of myosin and Par3 at the adherens junction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, 2205 Tech Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. r-carthew@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Carthew
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins