The role of α-catenin in cell–cell adhesion. (A) The cadherin–catenin complex (CCC). The transmembrane cadherin mediates cell–cell adhesion through calcium-dependent homophilic binding of an adjacent cadherin. Intracellularly, cadherin interacts directly with p120-catenin and β-catenin. α-Catenin joins the complex by binding to β-catenin through its N terminus, while the C-terminal actin-binding domain recruits the actin cytoskeleton. (B) Key features of α-catenin, including the three vinculin homology (VH) domains and the binding sites of several proteins discussed in this review.