Plakoglobin, also known as gamma-catenin belongs together with alpha- and beta catenin to the catenin family. Catenins mediates cell-cell adhesion by interaction with cadherins. Plakoglobin is found in desmosomes and adherens junctions. Plakoglobin is highly homologous to beta-catenin although its function differs from that of beta-catenin. Whereas beta-catenin has been found in potentiating hyperproliferation and tumor formation, plakoglobin can suppress tumorigenicity. Overexpression of plakoglobin has been shown to suppress cell proliferation and cell tumorigenicity in animals. Furthermore reduced plakoglobin expression has been found in tumor tissues and metastatic lesions of renal cells, esophageal carcinomas and in skin carcinomas.Synonyms: CTNNG, Catenin gamma, DP3, Desmoplakin III, Desmoplakin-3, JUP