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Cadherin tales: Regulation of cadherin function by endocytic membrane trafficking
Author(s) -
Cadwell Chantel M.,
Su Wenji,
Kowalczyk Andrew P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
traffic
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.677
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1600-0854
pISSN - 1398-9219
DOI - 10.1111/tra.12448
Subject(s) - endocytic cycle , cadherin , adherens junction , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , endocytosis , ubiquitin , genetics , receptor , cell , gene
Cadherins are the primary adhesion molecules in adherens junctions and desmosomes and play essential roles in embryonic development. Although significant progress has been made in understanding cadherin structure and function, we lack a clear vision of how cells confer plasticity upon adhesive junctions to allow for cellular rearrangements during development, wound healing and metastasis. Endocytic membrane trafficking has emerged as a fundamental mechanism by which cells confer a dynamic state to adhesive junctions. Recent studies indicate that the juxtamembrane domain of classical cadherins contains multiple endocytic motifs, or “switches,” that can be used by cellular membrane trafficking machinery to regulate adhesion. The cadherin‐binding protein p120‐catenin (p120) appears to be the master regulator of access to these switches, thereby controlling cadherin endocytosis and turnover. This review focuses on p120 and other cadherin‐binding proteins, ubiquitin ligases, and growth factors as key modulators of cadherin membrane trafficking.