title: Connexins in migration during development and cancer.
abstract: Connexins, the gap junction proteins, through their multitude of actions are implicated in a variety of cell processes during animal development and cancer. They allow direct or paracrine/autocrine cell communication through their channel and hemi-channel functions. They enable adhesion and interact with a plethora of signalling molecules. Here, we review the common themes in developmental and pathological processes and we focus in their involvement in cell migration in four different systems: neurons, astrocytes, neural crest and cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotini
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Electronic address: r.mayor@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mayor
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins
keywords: Cancer; Cell migration; Connexin; Development; Polarity