JT Biohistory Research Hall, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1125, Japan.
J Cell Biol. 2011 Jun 27;193(7):1137-46. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201008173.
Adhesion between cells is essential to the evolution of multicellularity. Indeed, morphogenesis in animals requires firm but flexible intercellular adhesions that are mediated by subcellular structures like the adherens junction (AJ). A key component of AJs is classical cadherins, a group of transmembrane proteins that maintain dynamic cell-cell associations in many animal species. An evolutionary reconstruction of cadherin structure and function provides a comprehensive framework with which to appreciate the diversity of morphogenetic mechanisms in animals.
细胞间的黏附对于多细胞生物的进化至关重要。事实上，动物的形态发生需要牢固但灵活的细胞间黏附，这些黏附由细胞内结构如黏着连接（AJ）介导。AJ 的关键组成部分是经典钙黏蛋白，这是一组跨膜蛋白，可维持许多动物物种中动态的细胞-细胞关联。钙黏蛋白结构和功能的进化重建提供了一个全面的框架，可用于理解动物形态发生机制的多样性。
