Coordinated protein sorting, targeting and distribution in polarized cells

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Abstract
Cell polarity is defined as the segregation of specific biological functions to different plasma membrane domains. Cell polarity is essential for the survival of all multicellular and many unicellular organisms. The polarized distribution of biological functions requires the coordinated interaction of three machineries that modify basic mechanisms of intracellular protein trafficking and distribution. First, intrinsic protein-sorting signals and cellular decoding machineries regulate protein trafficking to selected plasma membrane domains. Correctly sorted proteins regulate functional specialization of the membrane domain. Second, intracellular signalling complexes define the plasma membrane domains to which proteins are delivered. Third, proteins involved in cell–cell and cell–substrate adhesion orientate the distribution of intracellular signalling complexes and membrane traffic in three-dimensional space. The integration of these mechanisms into a complex and dynamic network is crucial for normal tissue function and is often defective in disease states.