IMR Press / FBL / Volume 13 / Issue 13 / DOI: 10.2741/3063

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article
EpCAM in morphogenesis
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1 University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Biology, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

 

Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2008, 13(13), 5050–5055; https://doi.org/10.2741/3063
Published: 1 May 2008
Abstract

Embryonic development is one of the most complex biological phenomena that involves the appropriate expression and synchronized interactions of a plethora of proteins, including cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Many members of the diverse family of CAMs have been shown to be critically involved in the correct execution of embryonic development. The Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) is an atypical cell adhesion molecule originally identified as a marker for carcinoma. However, recent insights have revealed that EpCAM participates in not only cell adhesion, but also in proliferation, migration and differentiation of cells. All of these processes are known to be fundamental for morphogenesis. Here, we review the current literature that establishes EpCAM as a protein involved in morphogenesis, starting from the earliest stages of embryogenesis and ending in organogenesis. In addition, we provide directions for further elucidation of the role of EpCAM in embryogenesis.

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