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Adherens Junctions

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Encyclopedia of Cancer

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Synonyms

Intermediate junction; Zonula adherens

Definition

Adherens junctions are specialized cell–cell attachments composed of transmembrane proteins and cytoplasmic proteins that anchor to the actin cytoskeleton (Fig. 1). Anchoring proteins are clustered with several actin-binding proteins in the cytoplasm adjacent to the junctional membranes. Adherens junctions form punctate or streak-like attachments in nonepithelial tissues, whereas they encircle the apical portion of adjacent epithelial cells below tight junctions. Adherens junctions have prototypic roles in stabilizing the epithelium, establishing apical–basal polarity of epithelial cells, and facilitating cell–cell communication that regulates cell proliferation and movement. Since most human cancers are of epithelial origin, disruption of adherens junctions is one of the hallmarks of cancer cells exhibiting malignant transformation.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Epithelial cells joined by the apical adhesion complex. Adherens junctions are located...

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References

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See Also

  • (2012) Rap1. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, p 3168. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_4947

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  • (2012) Wnt. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, p 3953. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_6255

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  • (2012) ZO-1. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, p 3977. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_6301

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan

    Jun Miyoshi

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan

    Yoshimi Takai

Authors
  1. Jun Miyoshi
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  2. Yoshimi Takai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun Miyoshi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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Miyoshi, J., Takai, Y. (2014). Adherens Junctions. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_94-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_94-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

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