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Related Concept Videos

Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

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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.
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Structure of Cadherins01:25

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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...
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Determination01:51

Determination

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During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In...
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Catenins01:23

Catenins

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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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Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

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Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the...
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Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

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Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
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Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
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Cadherins in early neural development.

Karolina Punovuori1,2, Mattias Malaguti3, Sally Lowell4

  • 1Helsinki Institute of Life Science, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, 00290, Helsinki, Finland.

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS
|April 2, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell adhesion molecules, like cadherins, actively influence cell fate decisions during neural development, ensuring reproducible patterning. This coordination may explain developmental consistency and challenges in controlling cell differentiation in vitro.

Keywords:
AdhesionDifferentiationNeuroectodermPluripotencySignalling

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Cell identity changes are driven by signaling and transcription factors during neural development.
  • Cellular rearrangements, guided by adhesion molecules, shape the neural tube.
  • Adhesion molecules actively influence, rather than merely follow, cell fate decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review cadherin expression and function in early neural development.
  • To explore how cadherins modulate signaling and differentiation.
  • To understand the link between cell differentiation and adhesion in ensuring developmental reproducibility.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cadherin expression and function.
  • Analysis of cadherin's role in neural tube morphogenesis and cell signaling.
  • Discussion of cadherins' potential role in coordinating cell fate decisions.

Main Results:

  • Cadherins simultaneously influence morphogenesis and signaling pathways.
  • Adhesion molecules actively feed into cell fate decisions.
  • Cadherins may coordinate cell fate decisions between neighboring cells.

Conclusions:

  • Cadherins are crucial for ensuring the fidelity of neural patterning during development.
  • The uncoupling of differentiation and adhesion in vitro may explain difficulties in controlling cell fate ex-vivo.
  • Understanding cadherin function is key to unraveling developmental reproducibility.