Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Real-time Imaging of Myeloid Cells Dynamics in ApcMin/+ Intestinal Tumors by Spinning Disk Confocal Microscopy
Published on: October 6, 2014
A Drosophila APC tumour suppressor homologue functions in cellular adhesion
Fumihiko Hamada1, Mariann Bienz
1MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, UK.
Abstract:
Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is an important tumour suppressor in the intestinal epithelium. Its function in reducing nuclear beta-catenin and T-cell factor (TCF)-mediated transcription is conserved from Drosophila to mammals. But APC proteins are also associated with the plasma membrane. Here, we show that mutational inactivation of Drosophila E-APC causes delocalization of Armadillo (the Drosophila beta-catenin) but not DE-cadherin from adhesive plasma membranes. Extensive gaps between these membranes are visible at the ultrastructural level. The oocyte is also mislocalized in E-APC mutant egg chambers, a phenotype that results from a failure of cadherin-based adhesion. These results indicate that Drosophila APC functions in cellular adhesion; these results could have implications for colorectal adenoma formation and tumour progression in humans.
Related Concept Videos
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
Anaphase Promoting Complex
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Adherens Junctions
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...

