title: Adherens junctions: from molecules to morphogenesis.
abstract: How adhesive interactions between cells generate and maintain animal tissue structure remains one of the most challenging and long-standing questions in cell and developmental biology. Adherens junctions (AJs) and the cadherin-catenin complexes at their core are therefore the subjects of intense research. Recent work has greatly advanced our understanding of the molecular organization of AJs and how cadherin-catenin complexes engage actin, microtubules and the endocytic machinery. As a result, we have gained important insights into the molecular mechanisms of tissue morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada. tony.harris@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Tony J C
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tepass
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051177:Catenins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins