Role of Lgl/Dlg/Scribble in the regulation of epithelial junction, polarity and growth

Abstract

Genetic studies in Drosophila have revealed that three tumor suppressors, Discs large (Dlg), Scribble (Scrib) and Lethal giant larvae (Lgl), which localize to the basolateral region of epithelial cells, cooperatively regulate cell polarity, junction formation and cell growth in epithelial cells. Subsequent studies in Drosophila, vertebrates and C. elegans have shown the evolutionary conservation of some of their functions in epithelial cells. Also, these studies revealed the importance of antagonistic interactions between these tumor suppressors and apical polarity regulators such as Crumbs and aPKC for the establishment of apical-basal polarity with organized cell-cell junctions and regulation of cell growth in epithelial cells.