Figure 3. Src modulates cell adhesion through regulation of E-cadherin expression, distribution and function.

E-cadherin is one of the important epithelial adhesion molecules that plays a crucial role in maintaining the polarity of epithelial cells due to the disruption of tight conjunctions and reorganization of cytoskeleton systems. The decrease in E-cadherin based cell-cell contact induced by c-Src occurs not only through the prohibited expression of E-cadherin, but also via the enhanced endocytosis and further internalization of E-cadherin by regulating the E3 ligase, Hakai. Moreover, activated c-Src results in tyrosine phosphorylation of E-cadherin and p120-catenin. This effect leads to a weakened association between E-cadherin and p120-catenin that contributes to the instability of E-cadherin at the adherens junction, as well as E-cadherin ubiquitination and degradation.