Letting go: modification of cell adhesion during apoptosis.
Apoptosis appears to be a carefully orchestrated process for the ordered dismantling of cells. A recent paper in BMC Developmental Biology shows that the disassembly of adherens junctions during apoptosis in Drosophila is progressive and requires the amino-terminal cleavage of the beta-catenin Armadillo by the apoptotic effector caspase DrICE.
Suzanne
Magali
M
The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Steller
Hermann
H
D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
C495305:ARM protein, Drosophila; D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020169:Caspases; C109171:drICE protein, Drosophila