The Molecular Architecture of Cell-Cell Adhesions

Cell-cell adhesion plays a key role in the assembly of individual cells into coherent and functional multicellular organisms. Recent structural and molecular studies have shed new light on the mechanisms whereby the diverse types of intercellular junctions support tissue morphogenesis and integration, and intercellular communication. Focusing on cadherin-based adherens junctions, we address the functional and molecular architecture of these adhesions, including the mechanism of cadherin-cadherin interactions, the role of the cytoplasmic plaque in junction formation and signaling, and the critical role of the cytoskeleton in tissue scaffolding. Finally, we discuss the challenge of understanding the complex, yet precise networking of adhesion-associated molecules during tissue integration and embryonic development.