title: Adherens Junctions Revisualized: Organizing Cadherins as Nanoassemblies.
abstract: This Perspective considers how classical cadherin cell-cell adhesion receptors are organized at the nanoscale to generate lateral clusters. Recent advances in optical microscopy reveal that clustering constitutes a general feature of cadherin organization, but one that takes diverse forms. Here we consider the molecular mechanisms responsible for cadherin clustering and their functional implications. We frame our discussion in light of what is known about how nanoscale organization is conferred upon the plasma membrane, through protein-protein interactions, regulation of the cortical actin cytoskeleton, and the lipid environment of the membrane.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Program in Membrane Interface Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia. Electronic address: a.yap@imb.uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alpha S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Program in Membrane Interface Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Guillermo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Program in Membrane Interface Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia. Electronic address: r.parton@imb.uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Parton
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins
keywords: adherens junctions; cadherin; cytoskeleton; membrane organization; nanoclusters