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First published online November 8, 2006
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/jcs.03267

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Cinderella no longer: -catenin steps out of cadherin's shadow

Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: a.yap{at}imb.uq.edu.au)

Accepted 19 September 2006

To date, -catenin has been best understood as an important cytoplasmic component of the classical cadherin complex responsible for cell-cell adhesion. By virtue of its capacity to bind F-actin, -catenin was commonly envisaged to support cadherin function by coupling the adhesion receptor to the actin cytoskeleton. But is -catenin solely the cadherin's handmaiden? A range of recent developments suggest, instead, that its biological activity is much more complex than previously appreciated. Evidence from cellular systems and model organisms demonstrates a clear, often dramatic, role for -catenin in tissue organization and morphogenesis. The morphogenetic impact of -catenin reflects its capacity to mediate functional cooperation between cadherins and the actin cytoskeleton, but is not confined to this. -Catenin has a role in regulating cell proliferation and cadherin-independent pools of -catenin may contribute to its functional impact.

Key words: -Catenin, Cadherin, Actin cytoskeleton, Adhesion, Morphogenesis

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