Cytoplasmic Control of Cadherin-mediated Cell-Cell Adhesion

Cadherins constitute a multigene family of Ca ++-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules with more than 15 members (Magee and Buxton 1991; Takeichi 1991). A role of the members of this molecular family is to bind cells very tightly through homophilic interactions. If cadherins are absent, cells can disperse freely. Many members of the family preferentially interact with the same molecules. As a result, cells selectively adhere to those expressing identical cadherin types (Nose et al. 1988; Friedlander et al. 1989; Miyatani et al. 1989). For this property, cadherins are thought o be important in specific cell-cell adhesion. Cadherins are not simple adhesive substances such as glues, but their function is dynamically controlled by the cells. Cadherins are transmembrane proteins, and