Loss of Xenopus cadherin-11 leads to increased Wnt/β-catenin signaling and up-regulation of target genes c-myc and cyclin D1 in neural crest.

Xenopus cadherin-11 (Xcadherin-11) is an exceptional cadherin family member, which is predominantly expressed in cranial neural crest cells (NCCs). Apart from mediating cell-cell adhesion it promotes cranial NCC migration by initiating filopodia and lamellipodia formation. Here, we demonstrate an unexpected function of Xcadherin-11 in NCC specification by interfering with canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Xenopus cadherin-6 regulates growth and epithelial development of the retina.

Cadherins are crucial for tissue cohesion, separation of cell layers and cell migration during embryogenesis. To investigate the role of classical type II Xcadherin-6 (Xcad-6), we performed loss-of-function studies by morpholino oligonucleotide injections. This resulted in severe eye defects which could be rescued with murine cadherin-6.