Human Genetics & Embryology

The Curses and the Blesses of E-Cadherin

Abstract

Kakon Nag, Naznin Sultana and Toshihiro Akaike

E-cadherin is an evolutionary conserved molecule expressing from lower level animal to human. The principal role of E-cadherin is to maintain appropriate cell-cell connectivity at adherensjunction. Besides its role as cell-cell connector protein, E-cadherin is integrally involved in intracellular signaling as well as cytoskeletal remodeling. Proper spaciotemporal regulations as well as relevant specialized functions of E-cadherin are important for maintaining normal embryogenesis, cellular morphology and physiological function. However, defects in the expression and function of this gene products could become curses since numerous genetic and developmental studies have identified the critical role of this gene in path physiological conditions of multiple types of cancers leading to fatality. Recent study identified essential role of this gene product in stem cell biology including normal embryogenesis, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation and stem cell differentiation. Currently iPSC has become a prime choice as starting material for regenerative medicine to treat many diseases; however the relevant technology has many shortcomings. Our lab and others have been exploiting this protein for successful application in regenerative medicine that made it a blessed molecule. Here, based on the latest available information, we are concisely presenting these agonies and advantages of E-cadherin.