Cadherins as Modulators of Cellular Phenotype

Margaret J. Wheelock, Keith R. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

553 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cadherins are transmembrane glycoproteins that mediate calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion. The cadherin family is large and diverse, and proteins are considered to be members of this family if they have one or more cadherin repeats in their extracellular domain. Cadherin family members are the transmembrane components of a number of cellular junctions, including adherens junctions, desmosomes, cardiac junctions, endothelial junctions, and synaptic junctions. Cadherin function is critical in normal development, and alterations in cadherin function have been implicated in tumorigenesis. The strength of cadherin interactions can be regulated by a number of proteins, including the catenins, which serve to link the cadherin to the cytoskeleton. Cadherins have been implicated in a number of signaling pathways that regulate cellular behavior, and it is becoming increasingly clear that integration of information received from cell-cell signaling, cell-matrix signaling, and growth factor signaling determines ultimate cellular phenotype and behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)207-235
Number of pages29
JournalAnnual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
Volume19
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

Keywords

  • Adhesion
  • Catenin
  • Junctions
  • Signaling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cadherins as Modulators of Cellular Phenotype'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this