Junctions as Organizing Centers in Epithelial Cells? A Fly Perspective

作者：Thomas Lecuit, Eric F. Wieschaus · 发表于：Traffic · 年份：2002 · DOI：10.1034/j.1600-0854.2002.030202.x · 被引用次数：33 · 研究领域：Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms、Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer、Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Junctions isolate the apical from the basal-lateral surfaces and are required for the polarization of epithelial cells. Genetics of junction formation in Drosophila has identified numerous transmembrane and scaffolding proteins that assemble in membrane-associated complexes. This review focuses on recent findings suggesting that junctions are autonomous organizing centers for the establishment and maintenance of apical-basal polarity in epithelial cells as well as other polarized processes such as the orientation of the division apparatus.