title: New insights into the regulation of E-cadherin distribution by endocytosis.
abstract: Homeostasis of adherens junctions is achieved through complex regulatory mechanisms. The junctions are highly dynamic in contact establishment, in remodeling events during development, and during processes involving a loss of adhesion like epithelial-mesenchyme transition. It appeared recently that they are also dynamically renewed in mature, steady-state adhesions. Indeed, maintenance of a steady state must be integrated into a tight control of force equilibrium between a cell and its neighbors. Therefore, it appears that E-cadherin dynamics allows to respond constantly to various biochemical and mechanical stimuli and to regulate the movement and shape of junctions in active remodeling processes. E-cadherin dynamics is mediated through several mechanisms (diffusion, trafficking) in function of the biological system. In mature junctions, membrane E-cadherin is quickly renewed by endocytosis in many cell types. E-cadherin endocytosis shows a complex regulation, depending on small G proteins, ubiquitination, cleavage events, actomyosin cytoskeleton, and other trans molecules in adherens junctions. It is modulated by growth factor stimulations and physical factors. Consequently, E-cadherin endocytosis tightly controls a number of functional processes: cell movements, junction maintenance, cell sorting, and polarity. Misregulated E-cadherin endocytosis is involved in many diseases, from cancerous processes to organogenesis defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Development, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Beco
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amblard
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coscoy
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016764:Cell Polarity; D004705:Endocytosis; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D016023:Integrins