Home > B. Cellular pathology > cell shape
cell shape
Monday 13 February 2006
Examples
squamous cells
cuboidal cells
columnar cells
atypical cells
fusiform cells
polygonal cells
Pathology
cell shape anomalies
See also : cell size
small cells
medium-size cells
large cells
Adherens junctions
The adherens junction functions to connect epithelial cells and maintain their polarized architecture. The geometry of the adherens junction, and consequently the shape of a cell, appears to reach an energetically favorable state.
Cadherins within the adherens junction are necessary for cells to achieve this state. Interactions between the actin cytoskeleton and the adherens junction are required for certain cell shape changes.
References
Lecuit T, Lenne PF. Cell surface mechanics and the control of cell shape, tissue patterns and morphogenesis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2007 Aug;8(8):633-44. PMID: 17643125
Carthew RW. Adhesion proteins and the control of cell shape. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2005 Aug;15(4):358-63. PMID: 15963712
