Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

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...
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.
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
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...
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.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Supporting the Scientists Behind the Science.

Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology·2025
Same author

Limitations in PPARα-dependent mitochondrial programming restrain the differentiation of human stem cell-derived β cells.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Mitophagy in the adaptation to pancreatic β cell stress in diabetes.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2025
Same author

TRAF6 integrates innate immune signals to regulate glucose homeostasis via Parkin-dependent and Parkin-independent mitophagy.

Science advances·2025
Same author

Guiding Principles: A New Article Type to Promote Rigor, Reproducibility, and Transparency.

Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology·2025
Same author

LONP1 regulation of mitochondrial protein folding provides insight into beta cell failure in type 2 diabetes.

Nature metabolism·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Mouse Fetal Whole Intestine Culture System for Ex Vivo Manipulation of Signaling Pathways and Three-dimensional Live Imaging of Villus Development
06:46

Mouse Fetal Whole Intestine Culture System for Ex Vivo Manipulation of Signaling Pathways and Three-dimensional Live Imaging of Villus Development

Published on: September 4, 2014

E-cadherin is required for intestinal morphogenesis in the mouse.

Benjamin J Bondow1, Mary L Faber, Kevin J Wojta

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.

Developmental Biology
|July 7, 2012
PubMed
Summary

E-cadherin is essential for intestinal development, with its loss causing severe defects in morphogenesis and barrier function in mice. This protein is critical for maintaining intestinal epithelial integrity and homeostasis during embryonic development.

More Related Videos

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging
12:15

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

Published on: October 3, 2017

3D Culturing of Organoids from the Intestinal Villi Epithelium Undergoing Dedifferentiation
06:40

3D Culturing of Organoids from the Intestinal Villi Epithelium Undergoing Dedifferentiation

Published on: April 1, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Mouse Fetal Whole Intestine Culture System for Ex Vivo Manipulation of Signaling Pathways and Three-dimensional Live Imaging of Villus Development
06:46

Mouse Fetal Whole Intestine Culture System for Ex Vivo Manipulation of Signaling Pathways and Three-dimensional Live Imaging of Villus Development

Published on: September 4, 2014

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging
12:15

The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging

Published on: October 3, 2017

3D Culturing of Organoids from the Intestinal Villi Epithelium Undergoing Dedifferentiation
06:40

3D Culturing of Organoids from the Intestinal Villi Epithelium Undergoing Dedifferentiation

Published on: April 1, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • E-cadherin is a key protein in epithelial adherens junctions, crucial for tissue integrity and cell signaling.
  • Its role in intestinal epithelial morphogenesis and function during embryonic development is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of E-cadherin in the developing mouse intestinal epithelium.
  • To determine the impact of E-cadherin loss on intestinal epithelial morphogenesis and function.

Main Methods:

  • Conditional knockout of E-cadherin in the mouse intestinal epithelium during embryonic development.
  • Analysis of intestinal architecture, cell shape, villi morphology, and junctional complexes at E18.5.
  • Assessment of epithelial cell populations, proliferation, enterocyte numbers, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Main Results:

  • E-cadherin conditional knockout mice exhibited embryonic lethality within 24 hours of birth.
  • Severe disruption of intestinal morphogenesis, including abnormal villi and compromised barrier function, was observed.
  • Loss of E-cadherin led to increased proliferation and decreased enterocyte numbers, with reduced nuclear activated β-catenin.

Conclusions:

  • E-cadherin is indispensable for intestinal epithelial morphogenesis and homeostasis during embryonic development.
  • Disruption of E-cadherin impacts epithelial structure, barrier function, and cell population dynamics.
  • E-cadherin plays a critical role in regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the developing intestine.