title: Organization and execution of the epithelial polarity programme.
abstract: Epithelial cells require apical-basal plasma membrane polarity to carry out crucial vectorial transport functions and cytoplasmic polarity to generate different cell progenies for tissue morphogenesis. The establishment and maintenance of a polarized epithelial cell with apical, basolateral and ciliary surface domains is guided by an epithelial polarity programme (EPP) that is controlled by a network of protein and lipid regulators. The EPP is organized in response to extracellular cues and is executed through the establishment of an apical-basal axis, intercellular junctions, epithelial-specific cytoskeletal rearrangements and a polarized trafficking machinery. Recent studies have provided insight into the interactions of the EPP with the polarized trafficking machinery and how these regulate epithelial polarization and depolarization.
authors.affiliation: Margaret Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, LC-301 New York City, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Boulan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 465 21st Avenue South, U 3209 MRB III, Nashville Tennessee 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Ian G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Macara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D009024:Morphogenesis; D015398:Signal Transduction