p120 catenin and phosphorylation:: Mechanisms and traits of an unresolved issue

p120 catenin is a scaffold protein that interacts with cadherin cytoplasmic domain and acts as a crucial component of the signalling that regulates the cycle of adherens junction fort-nation and disassembly. Here, we review the nature of stimuli that modulate p120cm function and are translated as serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation events at this multisite substrate for a variety of protein kinases. We also highlight recent findings that tentatively link phosphorylation of p120cm to its role as a signal integrator capable to influence the state of the cadherin adhesive bond, the cytoskeleton and cell motility. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.