Abstract
Local modulation of the actin cytoskeleton is essential for the initiation and maintenance of strong homotypic adhesive interfaces between neighboring cells. The epithelial adherens junction (AJ) fulfils a central role in this process by mediating E-cadherin interactions and functioning as a signaling scaffold to control the activity of the small GTPase RhoA and subsequent actomyosin contractility. Interestingly, a number of regulatory proteins that modulate RhoA activity at the AJ also control RhoA during cytokinesis, an actomyosin-dependent process that divides the cytoplasm to generate two daughter cells at the final stages of mitosis. Recent insights have revealed that the central player in AJ stability, p120-catenin (p120), interacts with and modulates essential regulators of actomyosin contraction during cytokinesis. In cancer, loss of this modulation is a common event during tumor progression that can induce chromosomal instability and tumor progression. In this review, we will highlight the functional differences and similarities of the different RhoA-associated factors that have been linked to both the regulation of cell-cell adhesion and cytokinesis.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 113-121 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Small GTPases |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Mar 2020 |
Keywords
- Journal Article
- cell adhesion
- cytokinesis
- p120-catenin
- Rho activity
- actomyosin contractility