Open AccessAdhesive and Signaling Functions of Cadherins and Catenins in Vertebrate Development
Author(s) -
Ewa Stepniak-Konieczna,
Glenn L. Radice,
Valeri Vasioukhin
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
cold spring harbor perspectives in biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.011
H-Index - 173
ISSN - 1943-0264
DOI - 10.1101/cshperspect.a002949
Subject(s) - adherens junction , biology , cadherin , morphogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , catenin , cell polarity , cell adhesion , actin cytoskeleton , cell junction , signal transduction , cytoskeleton , adhesion , actin , cell adhesion molecule , cell signaling , wnt signaling pathway , cell , genetics , gene , chemistry , organic chemistry
Properly regulated intercellular adhesion is critical for normal development of all metazoan organisms. Adherens junctions play an especially prominent role in development because they link the adhesive function of cadherin-catenin protein complexes to the dynamic forces of the actin cytoskeleton, which helps to orchestrate a spatially confined and very dynamic assembly of intercellular connections. Intriguingly, in addition to maintaining intercellular adhesion, cadherin-catenin proteins are linked to several major developmental signaling pathways crucial for normal morphogenesis. In this article we will highlight the key genetic studies that uncovered the role of cadherin-catenin proteins in vertebrate development and discuss the potential role of these proteins as molecular biosensors of external cellular microenvironment that may spatially confine signaling molecules and polarity cues to orchestrate cellular behavior throughout the complex process of normal morphogenesis.
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