CGC Bibliography Paper 5372

Regulation of epithelial cell shape and polarity by cell-cell adhesion.

Knust E

Medline:
12126229
Citation:
Molecular Membrane Biology 19: 113-120 2002
Type:
REVIEW
Genes:
ajm-1 dlg-1 hmp-1 hmp-2 hmr-1 let-413 par-3 par-6
Abstract:
Among all cell types that exhibit a polarized phenotype, epithelial cells are unique in that their polarity depends on the integration of the cell into a tissue, the epithelium. In recent years, the analysis of epithelial cell polarity in different epithelia and organisms has contributed to an understanding of the components involved and has further demonstrated that cell polarity and cell adhesion are intimately related to each other. Therefore, processes that mediate and modulate cell adhesion and coordinate adhesion and cell shape are fundamental for the function of epithelia. Recent results obtained in Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans have provided further insight into the complex circuits regulating these processes, and have laid the direction for