E-cadherin junctions as active mechanical integrators in tissue dynamics.
During epithelial morphogenesis, E-cadherin adhesive junctions play an important part in mechanically coupling the contractile cortices of cells together, thereby distributing the stresses that drive cell rearrangements at both local and tissue levels. Here we discuss the concept that cellular contractility and E-cadherin-based adhesion are functionally integrated by biomechanical feedback pathways that operate on molecular, cellular and tissue scales.
IBDM, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Campus de Luminy case 907, 13009 Marseille, France.
Thomas
T
Lecuit
Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Alpha S
AS
Yap
D000205:Actomyosin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D048430:Cell Shape; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D009024:Morphogenesis; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D000205:Actomyosin