Regulation of cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion by the Rho family GTPases

Reports in the past two years have shown that Cdc42, Rad, and Rho - belonging to the Rho small GTPase family - participate in the regulation of cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion. IQGAP1, an effector of Cdc42 and Rad, interacts with cadherin and beta-catenin and induces the dissociation of alpha-catenin from the cadherin-catenins complex leading to disruption of cell-cell adhesion: activated Cdc42 and Rad counteract the effect of IQGAP1. Thus, Cdc42 and Rad appear to regulate cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion acting through IQGAP1.