title: Role of Polarity Proteins in the Generation and Organization of Apical Surface Protrusions.
abstract: Protruding from the apical surfaces of epithelial cells are specialized structures, including cilia, microplicae, microvilli, and stereocilia. These contribute to epithelial function by cushioning the apical surface, by amplifying its surface area to facilitate nutrient absorption, and by promoting sensory transduction and barrier function. Despite these important roles, and the diseases that result when their formation is perturbed, there remain significant gaps in our understanding of the biogenesis of apical protrusions, or the pathways that promote their organization and orientation once at the apical surface. Here, I review some general aspects of these apical structures, and then discuss our current understanding of their formation and organization with respect to proteins that specify apicobasolateral polarity and planar cell polarity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine Renal-Electrolyte Division and the Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Apodaca
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008871:Microvilli / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C086680:ETV5 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C499657:PARD6A protein, human; C480591:SCRIB protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins