E-cadherin is required for intestinal morphogenesis in the mouse

► E-cadherin loss in the developing intestinal epithelium caused neonatal lethality. ► Intestinal epithelial architecture was severely disrupted in E-cadherin mutants. ► Barrier function was compromised in E-cadherin mutants. ► Mutant intestine contained more proliferating cells but fewer enterocytes. ► β-catenin target gene expression was increased, but β-catenin was less abundant in mutants.