E-Cadherin in a stabilizing relationship

On page 465, Ireton et al. report an unexpected mechanism by which cells can increase E-cadherin levels to boost their stickiness. Their findings stem from an unusual cell line that allows a direct analysis of the function of a cadherin modulator.

E-cadherin is the main cell–cell adhesion molecule in epithelial tissues. Down-regulation of E-cadherin occurs in many carcinoma types and correlates with the transition to metastasis. Recently, several tumor types have also been reported to have low levels of p120, a catenin thought to regulate the linkage of E-cadherin to the actin cytoskeleton. Now, Ireton et al. describe the first example of a carcinoma cell line—a colon cancer line, SW48—with mutations in p120 that cause low levels of the protein. This cell line reveals that p120 has a surprising effect...