catenin
noun
ca·te·nin
ˈka-tə-nən, kə-ˈtē- 
: any of various intracellular, cytoplasmic proteins that mediate the adhesion of one cell to another by connecting the actin microfilaments of one cell's cytoskeleton to the transmembrane cadherins of another cell
Vascular-endothelium cadherins are coupled intracellularly to catenins, a family of proteins that form signaling complexes with downstream kinases and phosphatases.—
Ralph L. Nachman et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Ralph L. Nachman et al., The New England Journal of MedicineNote: Specific catenins are designated with the prefixes alpha- (or α-), beta- (or β-), etc.
Beta-catenin normally helps to form junctions with neighboring cells.—Ricki L. Rusting, Scientific American
Ricki L. Rusting, Scientific AmericanDictionary Entries Near catenin
Cite this Entry
“Catenin.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/catenin. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
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