Cinderella no longer: alpha-catenin steps out of cadherin's shadow.
To date, alpha-catenin has been best understood as an important cytoplasmic component of the classical cadherin complex responsible for cell-cell adhesion. By virtue of its capacity to bind F-actin, alpha-catenin was commonly envisaged to support cadherin function by coupling the adhesion receptor to the actin cytoskeleton. But is alpha-catenin solely the cadherin's handmaiden? A range of recent developments suggest, instead, that its biological activity is much more complex than previously appreciated. Evidence from cellular systems and model organisms demonstrates a clear, often dramatic, role for alpha-catenin in tissue organization and morphogenesis. The morphogenetic impact of alpha-catenin reflects its capacity to mediate functional cooperation between cadherins and the actin cytoskeleton, but is not confined to this. alpha-catenin has a role in regulating cell proliferation and cadherin-independent pools of alpha-catenin may contribute to its functional impact.
Scott
Jeanie A
JA
Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Yap
Alpha S
AS
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000502:physiology*
D015820:Cadherins; D051178:alpha Catenin