As the crucial non-cellular component of tissues, the extracellular matrix (ECM) provides
both physical support and signaling regulation to cells. Some ECM molecules provide a …

Desmosomal cadherins are a recent evolutionary innovation that make up the adhesive core
of highly specialized intercellular junctions called desmosomes. Desmosomal cadherins …

The development of adhesive connections between cells was critical for the evolution of
multicellularity and for organizing cells into complex organs with discrete compartments …

Desmoplakin (DSP), encoded by the DSP gene, is the main desmosome component and is
abundant in the myocardial tissue. There are three DSP isoforms that assume the role of …

Cells and tissues sense, respond to and translate mechanical forces into biochemical
signals through mechanotransduction, which governs individual cell responses that drive …

Epithelial homeostasis can be critically influenced by how cells respond to mechanical
forces, both local changes in force balance between cells and altered tissue-level forces. 1 …

To fulfil their function, epithelial tissues need to sustain mechanical stresses and avoid
rupture. Although rupture is usually undesired, it is central to some developmental …

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is a common birth defect with a complex,
heterogeneous etiology. It is well established that common and rare sequence variants …

Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are a family of phylogenetically conserved calcium-
dependent enzymes which cause post-translational protein deimination. This can result in …

Epithelia are subject to diverse forms of mechanical stress during development and post-
embryonic life. They possess multiple mechanisms to preserve tissue integrity against …