ArticlePLoS genetics2009
The epithelial cell adhesion molecule EpCAM is required for epithelial morphogenesis and integrity during zebrafish epiboly and skin development.
Article in PLoS genetics, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 93 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
93 citing papers in PubMed, 147 citations in OpenAlex.
- De novo E-cadherin/catenin complex formation controls basal epithelial mechanics and force transmission for apoptotic cell clearance.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Whole-body single-cell atlas of an adult vertebrate in homeostasis and regeneration.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Modeling epithelial deformation and cell rearrangement in response to external forces during Zebrafish epiboly.NPJ systems biology and applications · 2026Article
- EpCAM supports exit from pluripotency of embryonic stem cells via Eomes.Cell death & disease · 2026Article
- A small-molecule screen identifies that elafibranor links mechanical cues and Irf6-dependent epithelial differentiation.Disease models & mechanisms · 2026Article
- Dorsal forerunner cells transmit epiboly forces to extend the zebrafish notochord.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025Article
- An analysis of contractile and protrusive cell behaviors at the superficial surface of the zebrafish neural plate.Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists · 2025Article
- Phased ERK responsiveness and developmental robustness regulate teleost skin morphogenesis.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025Article
- Construction of EpCAM overexpression and knockdown vectors and their implications in colorectal cancer research.Frontiers in genome editing · 2025Article
- Development of the semicircular canals and otolithic organs of the vertebrate inner ear.Current topics in developmental biology · 2025Review
- Regulation of the Function and Expression of EpCAM.Biomedicines · 2024Review
- Photobiomodulation Facilitates Rat Cutaneous Wound Healing by Promoting Epidermal Stem Cells and Hair Follicle Stem Cells Proliferation.Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine · 2024Article
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- Matriptase-dependent epidermal pre-neoplasm in zebrafish embryos caused by a combination of hypotonic stress and epithelial polarity defects.PLoS genetics · 2023Article
- Origin, form and function of extraembryonic structures in teleost fishes.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2022Review
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- Review
- EPCAM and TROP2 share a role in claudin stabilization and development of intestinal and extraintestinal epithelia in mice.Biology open · 2022Article
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- TBC1D14 inhibits autophagy to suppress lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by downregulating macrophage erythroblast attacher.International journal of biological sciences · 2022Article
33 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
The aberrant expression of the transmembrane protein EpCAM is associated with tumor progression, affecting different cellular processes such as cell-cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, signaling, and invasion. However, the in vivo function of EpCAM still remains elusive due to the lack of genetic loss-of-function studies. Here, we describe epcam (tacstd) null mutants in zebrafish. Maternal-zygotic mutants display compromised basal protrusive activity and epithelial morphogenesis in cells of the enveloping layer (EVL) during epiboly. In partial redundancy with E-cadherin (Ecad), EpCAM made by EVL cells is further required for cell-cell adhesion within the EVL and, possibly, for proper attachment of underlying deep cells to the inner surface of the EVL, thereby also affecting deep cell epiboly movements. During later development, EpCAM per se becomes indispensable for epithelial integrity within the periderm of the skin, secondarily leading to disrupted morphology of the underlying basal epidermis and moderate hyper-proliferation of skin cells. On the molecular level, EVL cells of epcam mutant embryos display reduced levels of membranous Ecad, accompanied by an enrichment of tight junction proteins and a basal extension of apical junction complexes (AJCs). Our data suggest that EpCAM acts as a partner of E-cadherin to control adhesiveness and integrity as well as plasticity and morphogenesis within simple epithelia. In addition, EpCAM is required for the interaction of the epithelia with underlying cell layers.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.