Small GTPases and regulation of cadherin dependent cell-cell adhesion

Cadherins belong to a superfamily of cell-cell adhesion receptors that bind to the same type of molecules (homotypic interaction) in a calcium depende nt manner. Different members of the family are found in a wide variety of c ell types and cadherin adhesive function plays a role in cell fate, segrega tion, and differentiation, which ensures the higher order of organisation f ound in many tissues. This review will focus on the role that cadherin adhe siveness plays in the differentiation of epithelial cells, and how cadherin function can be regulated by proteins of the small GTPase family. In the t ext, readers are referred to recent reviews and other chapters covering imp ortant topics that are not discussed here because of space limitation.