title: Epithelial organization: new perspective on α-catenin from an ancient source.
abstract: Cadherins and catenins evidently partnered at the dawn of the animal kingdom to enable the first polarized epithelium, and perhaps animal evolution itself. New evidence from a primitive slime mold, however, suggests that α- and β-catenins may have engaged this function independently, long before cadherins arrived on the scene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. al.reynolds@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Albert B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin