N-cadherin is dispensable for pancreas development but required for beta-cell granule turnover.
Author
Summary, in English
The cadherin family of cell adhesion molecules mediates adhesive interactions that are required for the formation and maintenance of tissues. Previously, we demonstrated that N-cadherin, which is required for numerous morphogenetic processes, is expressed in the pancreatic epithelium at E9.5, but later becomes restricted to endocrine aggregates in mice. To study the role of N-cadherin during pancreas formation and function we generated a tissue-specific knockout of N-cadherin in the early pancreatic epithelium by inter-crossing N-cadherin-floxed mice with Pdx1Cre mice. Analysis of pancreas-specific ablation of N-cadherin demonstrates that N-cadherin is dispensable for pancreatic development, but required for beta-cell granule turnover. The number of insulin secretory granules is significantly reduced in N-cadherin-deficient beta-cells, and as a consequence insulin secretion is decreased.
Department/s
Publishing year
2010
Language
English
Pages
374-381
Publication/Series
Genesis: The Journal of Genetics and Development
Volume
48
Issue
6
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Topic
- Cell and Molecular Biology
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1526-954X