Biomaterial Database

Cadherin cell adhesion molecules in differentiation and embryogenesis. 1996

J A Marrs, and W J Nelson

Department of Medicine, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis 46202-5116, USA.

The cadherin gene superfamily of calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules contains more than 40 members. We summarize functions attributed to these proteins, especially their roles in cellular differentiation and embryogenesis. We also describe hierarchies of protein-protein interactions between cadherins and cadherin-associated proteins (catenins). Several signal transduction pathways converge on, and diverge from, the cadherin/catenin complex to regulate its function; we speculate on roles of these signaling processes for cell structure and function. This review provides a framework for interpretation of developmental functions of cadherin cell adhesion molecules.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D003896	Desmosomes	A type of junction that attaches one cell to its neighbor. One of a number of differentiated regions which occur, for example, where the cytoplasmic membranes of adjacent epithelial cells are closely apposed. It consists of a circular region of each membrane together with associated intracellular microfilaments and an intercellular material which may include, for example, mucopolysaccharides. (From Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990; Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Desmosome
D005314	Embryonic and Fetal Development	Morphological and physiological development of EMBRYOS or FETUSES.	Embryo and Fetal Development,Prenatal Programming,Programming, Prenatal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015398	Signal Transduction	The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway.	Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal
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