Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
Activation of tyrosine kinase receptors in epithelial cells results in the rapid disassembly of E-cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesions. New research has identified Hakai, an E3-ubiquitin-ligase related to Cbl that binds E-cadherin in a tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent manner. By promoting the endocytosis and dynamic recycling or destruction of E-cadherin complexes, Hakai may control epithelial–mesenchymal transitions under physiological and pathological conditions.
Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), an agent associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, binds to integrin α3β1 through its gB envelope glycoprotein, and thus gains entry into human fibroblasts. Based on an analogy with other microbial pathogens, integrin interaction with HHV-8 may induce signalling events that promote cell entry and perhaps facilitate disease progression.