A novel approach to cell adhesion/cytoskeleton research for exploring the epithelia cell system

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To understand how the biological functions of epithelial cell sheets are created in multicellular organisms, we aim to systematically examine the constitution and function of epithelial cell sheets. In addition to the previously identified components of cell-cell adhesion molecules, we have identified novel adhesion-related molecules using a method we developed for isolating cell-cell adhesion complexes. To study cell-sheet function, we have focused on the following points. 1) The regulation of biological functions by tight junctions, which control the microenvironment. 2) Signal transduction originating from the cell-cell adhesion apparatus, including the tight and adherens junctions. 3) The cooperative functional integration of the apical apparatus and the cytoskeleton. 4) The functional integration of apical membranes and cell-cell adhesion.