p120ctn transcripts are expressed in all cells during embryogenesis. Elevated levels are observed in several tissues, many of which are undergoing morphogenetic movements including the invaginating posterior midgut, CNS, migrating anterior and posterior midguts, foregut, hindgut, and cells in the midgut constriction.

In ovaries, p120ctn protein accumulates in the adherens junctions of epithelial follicle cells, at junctions between migrating border cells, and weakly in junctions between germ cells. In embryos, p120ctn protein accumulates at cell-cell adherens junctions in the epidermis and gut. The protein is present throughout embryogenesis, though the levels are lower in early embryonic stages than those of other core adherens junctions proteins such as arm protein and shg protein. p120ctn protein also accumulates in a variety of other tissues as observed in some cases by GFP staining. These include trachea, axons of the CNS, and sensory structures of the PNS. In eye imaginal discs, p120ctn protein localizes at cell-cell boundaries anterior to the morphogenetic furrow and at elevated levels where differentiating cells abut one another. In larval brains, @p120ctn localizes to cell-cell boundaries between nuroblasts, to GMCs, and to axons emerging from neuroblast progeny.