Preferred Label : Adherens Junction Assembly Pathway;
NCIt related terms : Adherens junction;
Alternative definition : KEGG: Cell-cell adherens junctions (AJs), the most common type of intercellular adhesions,
are important for maintaining tissue architecture and cell polarity and can limit
cell movement and proliferation. At AJs, E-cadherin serves as an essential cell adhesion
molecules (CAMs). The cytoplasmic tail binds beta-catenin, which in turn binds alpha-catenin.
Alpha-catenin is associated with F-actin bundles directly and indirectly. The integrity
of the cadherin-catenin complex is negatively regulated by phosphorylation of beta-catenin
by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases (Fer, Fyn, Yes,
and Src), which leads to dissociation of the cadherin-catenin complex. Integrity of
this complex is positively regulated by beta -catenin phosphorylation by casein kinase
II, and dephosphorylation by protein tyrosine phosphatases. Changes in the phosphorylation
state of beta-catenin affect cell-cell adhesion, cell migration and the level of signaling
beta-catenin. Wnt signaling acts as a positive regulator of beta-catenin by inhibiting
beta-catenin degradation, which stabilizes beta-catenin, and causes its accumulation.
Cadherin may acts as a negative regulator of signaling beta-catenin as it binds beta-catenin
at the cell surface and thereby sequesters it from the nucleus. Nectins also function
as CAMs at AJs, but are more highly concentrated at AJs than E-cadherin. Nectins transduce
signals through Cdc42 and Rac, which reorganize the actin cytoskeleton, regulate the
formation of AJs, and strengthen cell-cell adhesion.;
KEGG ID : hsa04520;
Origin ID : C91462;
UMLS CUI : C2984274;
Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
Semantic type(s)
has_gene_product_element
pathway_has_gene_element