Junctional music that the nucleus hears: cell-cell contact signaling and the modulation of gene activity

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2009 Oct;1(4):a002923. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a002923.

Abstract

Cell-cell junctions continue to capture the interest of cell and developmental biologists, with an emerging area being the molecular means by which junctional signals relate to gene activity in the nucleus. Although complexities often arise in determining the direct versus indirect nature of such signal transduction, it is clear that such pathways are essential for the function of tissues and that alterations may contribute to many pathological outcomes. This review assesses a variety of cell-cell junction-to-nuclear signaling pathways, and outlines interesting areas for further study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Catenins / metabolism
  • Cell Communication*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Desmosomes / metabolism
  • Developmental Biology / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Junctions / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Plakophilins / metabolism
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Catenins
  • Plakophilins
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases