Adherens Junctions: from Molecules to Morphogenesis

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol

Specialties Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Date 2010 Jun 24

PMID 20571587

Citations 446

Authors

Tony J C Harris

Ulrich Tepass

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

How adhesive interactions between cells generate and maintain animal tissue structure remains one of the most challenging and long-standing questions in cell and developmental biology. Adherens junctions (AJs) and the cadherin-catenin complexes at their core are therefore the subjects of intense research. Recent work has greatly advanced our understanding of the molecular organization of AJs and how cadherin-catenin complexes engage actin, microtubules and the endocytic machinery. As a result, we have gained important insights into the molecular mechanisms of tissue morphogenesis.

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