Cinderella no longer: alpha-catenin steps out of cadherin's shadow

To date, alpha-catenin has been best understood as an important cytoplasmic component of the classical cadherin complex responsible for cell-cell adhesion. By virtue of its capacity to bind F-actin, alpha-catenin was commonly envisaged to support cadherin function by coupling the adhesion receptor to the actin cytoskeleton. But is alpha-catenin solely the cadherin's handmaiden? A range of recent developments suggest, instead, that its biological activity is much more complex than previously appreciated. Evidence from cellular systems and model organisms demonstrates a clear, often dramatic, role for alpha-catenin in tissue organization and morphogenesis. The morphogenetic impact of alpha-catenin reflects its capacity to mediate functional cooperation between cadherins and the actin cytoskeleton, but is not confined to this. alpha-Catenin has a role in regulating cell proliferation and cadherin-independent pools of alpha-catenin may contribute to its functional impact.