InteractionsbetweencellsresponsIBLeforcelltocelladhesionalsocancommunicatesignalsintothecellularinterior,ofteninvolvinginteractionswithcytoskeletalelementstoproducechangesincellmotility,migration,proliferationandshape.Thecadherinsarecellsurfaceadhesionmoleculesthathelpformtightjunctionsbetweencellssuchasformationofepithelialcelllayers.E-cadherininactivationhasbeenimplicatedincancerdevelopment.Inadditiontomediatingadhesionwithothercells,cadherinstransducesignalsintocellsthroughinteractionswiththecatenins.Cateninsprobablyaffectactincytoskeletalfunctionthroughinteractionswithproteinslikeactininandvinculin.CateninsalsoprobablytriggerchangesincellshapeandmotilitywithsignalsthroughtheRhosmallGTPases.AnotherimportantcelladhesionmoleculeisCD-31,orPECAM-1,involvedintheformationofjunctionsbetweenendothelialcells,cellmigration,migrationoflymphocytes,andregulationoflymphocyteactivation.SrcphosphorylatesPECAM-1ontyrosineresiduescausingSHP-2associationwithPECAM-1.PaxillinactsasanadaptorproteinbetweenproteinsinvolvedinadhesionsignalinglikeFAKandsrcandcytoskeletalelements.Inadditiontosignalscreatedbyadhesionmoleculestoaltercellularresponses,othersignalingpathwayscanalteradhesionthroughcomponentsofthefocaladhesioncomplex. Contributor:GlennCroston,PhD. REFERENCES:
