Organization and execution of the epithelial polarity programme

E Rodriguez-Boulan, IG Macara - Nature reviews Molecular cell biology, 2014 - nature.com
Nature reviews Molecular cell biology, 2014nature.com
Epithelial cells require apical–basal plasma membrane polarity to carry out crucial vectorial
transport functions and cytoplasmic polarity to generate different cell progenies for tissue
morphogenesis. The establishment and maintenance of a polarized epithelial cell with
apical, basolateral and ciliary surface domains is guided by an epithelial polarity programme
(EPP) that is controlled by a network of protein and lipid regulators. The EPP is organized in
response to extracellular cues and is executed through the establishment of an apical–basal …
Abstract
Epithelial cells require apical–basal plasma membrane polarity to carry out crucial vectorial transport functions and cytoplasmic polarity to generate different cell progenies for tissue morphogenesis. The establishment and maintenance of a polarized epithelial cell with apical, basolateral and ciliary surface domains is guided by an epithelial polarity programme (EPP) that is controlled by a network of protein and lipid regulators. The EPP is organized in response to extracellular cues and is executed through the establishment of an apical–basal axis, intercellular junctions, epithelial-specific cytoskeletal rearrangements and a polarized trafficking machinery. Recent studies have provided insight into the interactions of the EPP with the polarized trafficking machinery and how these regulate epithelial polarization and depolarization.
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