Article abstract
Nature Cell Biology 4, 208 - 213 (2002)
Published online: 25 February 2002 | doi:10.1038/ncb755
A Drosophila APC tumour suppressor homologue functions in cellular adhesion
Fumihiko Hamada1 & Mariann Bienz1
Abstract
Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is an important tumour suppressor in the intestinal epithelium. Its function in reducing nuclear 
-catenin and T-cell factor (TCF)-mediated transcription is conserved from Drosophila to mammals. But APC proteins are also associated with the plasma membrane. Here, we show that mutational inactivation of Drosophila E-APC causes delocalization of Armadillo (the Drosophila -catenin) but not DE-cadherin from adhesive plasma membranes. Extensive gaps between these membranes are visible at the ultrastructural level. The oocyte is also mislocalized in E-APC mutant egg chambers, a phenotype that results from a failure of cadherin-based adhesion. These results indicate that Drosophila APC functions in cellular adhesion; these results could have implications for colorectal adenoma formation and tumour progression in humans.
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, UK. e-mail: mb2@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk
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