Abstract
The establishment of asymmetry within a cell and/or tissue, known as cell and tissue polarity, is essential for many fundamental processes in the organism, not only in development, but also in adults. These processes include: generation of cells with differential fate; migration of cells, for example, upon wounding; or formation of the T-cell synapse. Over the years it has become obvious that the activity of a general set of proteins regulates these rather diverse forms of asymmetry by relatively similar mechanisms. In this article, we discuss these basic players and, using a few examples, the general mechanisms by which they regulate asymmetry in cells and tissues. Finally, we will discuss the importance and mechanisms of polarity in the skin.
Acknowledgements
We apologize to colleagues whose original work we were unable to cite or discuss due to space limitations. We thank all the members of the Niessen laboratory, especially Jeanie Scott, for fruitful discussions on different aspects of adhesion and polarity in the skin. We thank Jeremy Nathans for kindly providing.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.