Cadherins: Types, Structure and Functions

183 Pages·2020·3.021 MB·English

by  Jonathan McWilliam

CELL BIOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRESS

C
ADHERINS

T , S F
YPES TRUCTURE AND UNCTIONS

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CELL BIOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRESS

C
ADHERINS

T , S F
YPES TRUCTURE AND UNCTIONS

JONATHAN MCWILLIAM
EDITOR
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: McWilliam, Jonathan, editor. Title: Cadherins : types, structure and functions / [edited by] Jonathan McWilliam.
Description: Hauppauge : Nova Science Publishers, [2020] | Series: Cell biology research progress | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Summary: "Cadherins are adhesion molecules which mediate homophilic Ca2+-dependent intercellular adhesion. They play a crucial role in tissue
morphogenesis during embryonic development and in the maintenance of tissue architecture in adults. In this compilation, the authors review and
discuss the structure of the cadherin-mediated junctions in seminiferous tubules and their functions in male fertility. Additionally, role of E-cadh in
uterine and mammary gland homeostasis is reviewed, and the disruptive patterns of E-cadh expression in neoplastic conditions of the uterus and
mammary glands in humans and domestic dogs and cats are described"-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020024377 (print) | LCCN 2020024378 (ebook) | ISBN 9781536180770 (paperback) | ISBN 9781536180961 (adobe pdf)
Subjects: LCSH: Cadherins. | Cell adhesion molecules.
Classification: LCC QP552.C42 C34 2020 (print) | LCC QP552.C42 (ebook) | DDC 572/.4--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020024377
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020024378

Published by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. † New York
CONTENTS

Preface vii
Chapter 1 Standing Out from the Crowd:
Functions of T-Cadherin in Health and Disease 1
Maria Philippova and Therese J. Resink
Chapter 2 Cadherin-Mediated Cell Adhesion
within the Seminiferous Tubules 95
Rita Payan-Carreira and Dario Santos
Chapter 3 Disruption of E-Cadherin Pattern in
Uterine and Mammary Tumours 129
Adelina Gama, Fernanda Seixas,
Maria dos Anjos Pires, Fernando Schmitt
and Rita Payan-Carreira
Index 163

PREFACE

Cadherins are adhesion molecules which mediate homophilic Ca2+-
dependent intercellular adhesion. They play a crucial role in tissue
morphogenesis during embryonic development and in the maintenance of
tissue architecture in adults.
In this compilation, the authors review and discuss the structure of the
cadherin-mediated junctions in seminiferous tubules and their functions in
male fertility.
Additionally, role of E-cadh in uterine and mammary gland
homeostasis is reviewed, and the disruptive patterns of E-cadh expression
in neoplastic conditions of the uterus and mammary glands in humans and
domestic dogs and cats are described. (Imprint: Nova)
Chapter 1 - Cadherins are adhesion molecules which mediate
homophilic Ca2+-dependent intercellular adhesion. They play a crucial role
in tissue morphogenesis during embryonic development and in the
maintenance of tissue architecture in the adult. Cadherin-based adherens
junctions and downstream signaling pathways are important for regulation
of many processes during tissue remodeling such as cell sorting, polarity,
migration, differentiation and survival. The cadherin superfamily is
heterogeneous. Apart from the main large sub-families of structurally
related members, it includes several atypical cadherins and cadherin-
related proteins with unique molecular structures. Among these is T-
viii Jonathan McWilliam
cadherin (cadherin-13) which lacks transmembrane and cytosolic domains
and is anchored to the plasma membrane via a glycosyl-
phosphatidylinositol anchor. Due to the absence of an intracellular
molecular moiety, T-cadherin-based intercellular contacts are weak and T-
cadherin-dependent cellular processes are mediated by signaling
mechanisms that are entirely different from those utilized by classical
transmembrane cadherins. T-cadherin was originally described in the
embryonic nervous system where it functions as a guidance molecule
navigating projecting motor axons. Subsequently T-cadherin was
demonstrated to regulate cell motility, proliferation, survival and
phenotype of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells,
cardiomyocytes, keratinocytes and several cancer cell types. Of particular
interest is its function in angiogenesis and also its involvement in
cardioprotective effects of adiponectin, an adipose tissue-derived hormone
which regulates glucose and fatty acid metabolism and supresses
progression of atherosclerosis. In the current chapter the authors review the
existing knowledge and recent studies on T-cadherin structure, signaling,
functions in different tissues, and relevance to pathogenesis of neurological
disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Chapter 2 - Cadherins (Cadh) are key-molecules in Adherens junctions
(AJs). They are multiprotein complexes mediating cell-cell adhesion, and
particularly important to shape cell polarity, provide plasticity and
maintain architectural integrity. Cadh, a large superfamily of cell surface
glycoproteins, present a unique extracellular region domain folding like the
immunoglobulin domains. They are found in a wide array of species and a
multitude of tissues, including the testis. In the mammalian testis, the
seminiferous tubules represent a unique type of epithelium-like tissue,
composed of two different cellular populations: the Sertoli somatic cells
and the spermatogenic cells. Different sorts of cell-to-cell attachments
connect adjacent Sertoli cells and Sertoli to germ cells. The overall
arrangement of junctions forms the blood-testis barrier. These connections
offer an immune-privileged environment to the developing germ cells, and
the nutritional and metabolic support to germ cells while offering particular
plasticity to the tubular structure. They allow the migration of