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Related Concept Videos

Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Structure of Cadherins01:25

Structure of Cadherins

The cadherins were one of the first cell adhesion molecules discovered; the term “cadherins”   is based on their calcium-dependent adhering properties. The first cadherins discovered on the epithelial, neuronal, and placental cells were named E-cadherin, P-cadherin, and N-cadherin, respectively. These classical cadherins share sequence and structural similarities. Other cadherins, including those involved in cell signaling, are grouped into non-classical cadherins. This diversity of cadherins...
Catenins01:23

Catenins

Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
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Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:22

Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) and its ligand, Eph receptor-interacting protein (Ephrin) were first discovered in the human carcinoma cell line, hence the name. Ephrin-Eph interaction guides cells to reach their appropriate location in adult tissues. They also play an essential role in the immune system by helping in immune cell migration, adhesion, and activation. Based on their structure and function, Eph is divided into two classes — EphA and EphB.

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Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
08:15

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Published on: October 17, 2014

Cadherin switching.

Margaret J Wheelock1, Yasushi Shintani, Masato Maeda

  • 1University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Oral Biology and Eppley Cancer Center, Omaha, NE 68198-7696, USA. mwheelock@unmc.edu

Journal of Cell Science
|March 7, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cadherin isoform switching in tumor cells drives metastasis by altering cell behavior. Understanding these changes, including cadherin family roles and p120-catenin involvement, is key to targeting aggressive cancers.

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Published on: October 17, 2014

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Adherens junctions utilize cadherin molecules with multiple isoforms.
  • Cadherin isoform switching is crucial for cell segregation during development.
  • Tumor cells exhibit cadherin switching, promoting aggressive behavior and metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanisms driving cadherin switching in cancer.
  • To understand downstream pathways affected by cadherin switching.
  • To investigate the role of specific cadherin family members and p120-catenin in tumor cell motility and invasion.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cadherin isoform expression.
  • Investigation of signaling pathways involving growth-factor-receptors and Rho GTPases.
  • Studies on the function of p120-catenin in cadherin regulation.

Main Results:

  • Cadherin switching in tumor cells correlates with increased aggressiveness and metastatic potential.
  • Specific cadherins influence growth-factor-receptor signaling and Rho GTPases, promoting cell motility.
  • p120-catenin appears to play a significant role in stabilizing cadherins and regulating Rho GTPases during cadherin switching.

Conclusions:

  • Cadherin switching is a critical process enabling tumor cell invasion and metastasis.
  • Targeting cadherin-mediated signaling pathways and regulators like p120-catenin may offer therapeutic strategies against aggressive cancers.