Controversies at the cytoplasmic face of the cadherin-based adhesion complex

Cadherin-mediated cell-cell interactions are modulated by protein interactions at the cytoplasmic face of the membrane. Recent work has shown that phosphorylation of both p120(ctn) and beta-catenin affects their interaction with cadherins and the molecular connections to the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeletal connections most probably include interactions between alpha-catenin, and/or alpha-actinin, vinculin, ZO-1, actin and possibly spectrin.