TY - JOUR
T1 - E-cadherin and catenins
T2 - Molecules with versatile roles in normal and neoplastic epithelial cell biology
AU - El-Bahrawy, Mona A.
AU - Pignatelli, Massimo
PY - 1998/11/1
Y1 - 1998/11/1
N2 - E-cadherin and its associated cytoplasmic proteins α-, β-, and γ- catenin, play a crucial role in epithelial cell-cell adhesion and in the maintenance of tissue architecture. Perturbation in the expression or function of any of these molecules results in loss of intercellular adhesion, with possible consequent cell transformation and tumour progression. The catenins are connected to many structural and functional proteins, which in turn influence their functions. Among these molecules are type I growth factor receptors, which along with other molecules are believed to alter the function of catenins through tyrosine phosphorylation. A recent finding is the association between the catenins and the adenomatous polyposis coli gene product (APC). APC mutation is an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis. It may possibly do so through perturbation of the critical cadherin/catenin complex. Further studies of the cadherin/catenin complex and its connections may give insight into the early molecular interactions critical to the initiation and progression of tumours, which should aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for both prevention and treatment.
AB - E-cadherin and its associated cytoplasmic proteins α-, β-, and γ- catenin, play a crucial role in epithelial cell-cell adhesion and in the maintenance of tissue architecture. Perturbation in the expression or function of any of these molecules results in loss of intercellular adhesion, with possible consequent cell transformation and tumour progression. The catenins are connected to many structural and functional proteins, which in turn influence their functions. Among these molecules are type I growth factor receptors, which along with other molecules are believed to alter the function of catenins through tyrosine phosphorylation. A recent finding is the association between the catenins and the adenomatous polyposis coli gene product (APC). APC mutation is an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis. It may possibly do so through perturbation of the critical cadherin/catenin complex. Further studies of the cadherin/catenin complex and its connections may give insight into the early molecular interactions critical to the initiation and progression of tumours, which should aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for both prevention and treatment.
KW - Adhesion
KW - Cancer
KW - Differentiation
KW - Growth factor receptors
KW - Invasion
KW - Tumour progression
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032212360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0032212360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0029(19981101)43:3<224::AID-JEMT4>3.0.CO;2-Q
DO - 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0029(19981101)43:3<224::AID-JEMT4>3.0.CO;2-Q
M3 - Article
C2 - 9840800
AN - SCOPUS:0032212360
VL - 43
SP - 224
EP - 232
JO - Microscopy Research and Technique
JF - Microscopy Research and Technique
SN - 1059-910X
IS - 3
ER -