Biomaterial Database

Small GTPases and regulation of cadherin dependent cell-cell adhesion. 1999

V M Braga

MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, UK. v.braga@ucl.ac.uk

Cadherins belong to a superfamily of cell-cell adhesion receptors that bind to the same type of molecules (homotypic interaction) in a calcium dependent manner. Different members of the family are found in a wide variety of cell types and cadherin adhesive function plays a role in cell fate, segregation, and differentiation, which ensures the higher order of organisation found in many tissues. This review will focus on the role that cadherin adhesiveness plays in the differentiation of epithelial cells, and how cadherin function can be regulated by proteins of the small GTPase family. In the text, readers are referred to recent reviews and other chapters covering important topics that are not discussed here because of space limitation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002448	Cell Adhesion	Adherence of cells to surfaces or to other cells.	Adhesion, Cell,Adhesions, Cell,Cell Adhesions
D015820	Cadherins	Calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins. They are important in the formation of ADHERENS JUNCTIONS between cells. Cadherins are classified by their distinct immunological and tissue specificities, either by letters (E- for epithelial, N- for neural, and P- for placental cadherins) or by numbers (cadherin-12 or N-cadherin 2 for brain-cadherin). Cadherins promote cell adhesion via a homophilic mechanism as in the construction of tissues and of the whole animal body.	Cadherin,E-Cadherins,Epithelial-Cadherin,Liver Cell Adhesion Molecules,N-Cadherins,Neural Cadherin,P-Cadherins,Uvomorulin,Cadherin-1,Cadherin-2,Cadherin-3,E-Cadherin,Epithelial-Cadherins,Liver Cell Adhesion Molecule,N-Cadherin,Neural Cadherins,P-Cadherin,Placental Cadherins,Cadherin 1,Cadherin 2,Cadherin 3,Cadherin, Neural,Cadherins, Neural,Cadherins, Placental,E Cadherin,E Cadherins,Epithelial Cadherin,Epithelial Cadherins,N Cadherin,N Cadherins,P Cadherin,P Cadherins
D020559	Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins	A class of monomeric, low molecular weight (20-25 kDa) GTP-binding proteins that regulate a variety of intracellular processes. The GTP bound form of the protein is active and limited by its inherent GTPase activity, which is controlled by an array of GTPase activators, GDP dissociation inhibitors, and guanine nucleotide exchange factors. This enzyme was formerly listed as EC 3.6.1.47	G-Proteins, Monomeric,GTP-Binding Proteins, Monomeric,Monomeric G-Protein,Monomeric G-Proteins,Small G-Protein,Small G-Proteins,Small GTPase,Small GTPases,ras-Related GTP-Binding Protein,ras-Related GTPase,ras-Related GTPases,ras-Related G-Proteins,ras-Related GTP-Binding Proteins,G Proteins, Monomeric,G-Protein, Monomeric,G-Protein, Small,G-Proteins, Small,G-Proteins, ras-Related,GTP Binding Proteins, Monomeric,GTP-Binding Protein, ras-Related,GTP-Binding Proteins, ras-Related,GTPase, Small,GTPase, ras-Related,GTPases, Small,GTPases, ras-Related,Monomeric G Protein,Monomeric G Proteins,Monomeric GTP Binding Proteins,Protein, ras-Related GTP-Binding,Proteins, ras-Related GTP-Binding,Small G Protein,Small G Proteins,ras Related G Proteins,ras Related GTP Binding Protein,ras Related GTP Binding Proteins,ras Related GTPase,ras Related GTPases
D020741	rho GTP-Binding Proteins	A large family of MONOMERIC GTP-BINDING PROTEINS that are involved in regulation of actin organization, gene expression and cell cycle progression. This enzyme was formerly listed as EC 3.6.1.47.	rho G-Proteins,rho GTPase,rho GTPases,rho Small GTP-Binding Proteins,P21 (rho)Protein,rho GTP-Binding Protein,rho Protein P21,G-Proteins, rho,GTP-Binding Protein, rho,GTP-Binding Proteins, rho,GTPase, rho,GTPases, rho,P21, rho Protein,rho G Proteins,rho GTP Binding Protein,rho GTP Binding Proteins,rho Small GTP Binding Proteins