Breaking down EMT

Nat Cell Biol. 2008 Jul;10(7):757-9. doi: 10.1038/ncb0708-757.

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, in which epithelial cells lose their polarity and become motile mesenchymal cells, occurs during development and marks a key step in tumour progression towards metastasis. Most studies of this process have focused on the disassembly of adherens junctions, but regulation of basement membrane breakdown by a pathway involving RhoA and microtubules may be equally important.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Adherens Junctions / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Basement Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cell Polarity
  • Disease Progression
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology*
  • Epithelium / physiology*
  • Mesoderm / cytology
  • Mesoderm / physiology*
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein