The Origin and Evolution of Alpha-catenin in Epithelial Cell Polarity

The Origin and Evolution of Alpha-catenin in Epithelial Cell Polarity
Author :
Publisher : Stanford University
Total Pages : 159
Release :
ISBN-10 : STANFORD:hr969rh5459
ISBN-13 :
Rating : 4/5 ( Downloads)

Book Synopsis The Origin and Evolution of Alpha-catenin in Epithelial Cell Polarity by : Daniel James Dickinson

Download or read book The Origin and Evolution of Alpha-catenin in Epithelial Cell Polarity written by Daniel James Dickinson and published by Stanford University. This book was released on 2011 with total page 159 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fundamental characteristic of metazoans is the formation of a simple, polarized epithelium. In higher animals, the structural integrity and functional polarization of simple epithelia require a cell-cell adhesion complex containing a classical cadherin, the Wnt-signaling protein β-catenin and the actin-binding protein α-catenin. I have investigated the evolutionary origins of epithelial cell polarity and of the cadherin-catenin complex. I show that the non-metazoan Dictyostelium discoideum forms a polarized epithelium that is essential for multicellular development. Although D. discoideum lacks a cadherin homolog, I have identified and characterized an α-catenin ortholog that binds a β-catenin-related protein. Both proteins are essential for formation of the epithelium, polarized protein secretion and proper multicellular morphogenesis. Thus the organizational principles of metazoan multicellularity may be more ancient than previously recognized, and the role of the catenins in cell polarity predates the evolution of Wnt signaling and classical cadherins.


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