engleski

Tumor suppressor gene E-cadherin and its role in normal and malignant cells

E-cadherin tumor suppressor genes are particularly active area of research in development and tumorigenesis. The calcium-dependent interactions among E-cadherin molecules are critical for the formation and maintenance of adherent junctions in areas of epithelial cell-cell contact. Loss of E- cadherin-mediated-adhesion characterises the transition from benign lesions to invasive, metastatic cancer. Nevertheless, there is evidence that E-cadherins may also play a role in the wnt signal transduction pathway, together with other key molecules involved in it, such as beta- catenins and adenomatous poliposis coli gene products. The structure and function of E- cadherin, gene and protein, in normal as well as in tumor cells are reviewed in this paper.

E-cadherin ; CDH1 ; cell adhesion ; wnt signalling

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