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Intercellular Junctions Overview

Intercellular junctions connect adjacent cells and allow communication between them. There are several types of intercellular junctions: 1) Tight junctions form a seal between cells and regulate molecular transport while preventing passive diffusion between cells. 2) Adherens junctions provide strong mechanical attachment between cells and link their cytoskeletons. 3) Desmosomes strongly couple adjacent cell's intermediate filaments to strengthen tissues like kidney tubules. 4) Hemidesmosomes anchor the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix like in skin and prevent blistering from diseases. 5) Gap junctions directly transfer small molecules and ions between cells, allowing for electrical signaling without neurotransmitters.

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229 views1 page

Intercellular Junctions Overview

Intercellular junctions connect adjacent cells and allow communication between them. There are several types of intercellular junctions: 1) Tight junctions form a seal between cells and regulate molecular transport while preventing passive diffusion between cells. 2) Adherens junctions provide strong mechanical attachment between cells and link their cytoskeletons. 3) Desmosomes strongly couple adjacent cell's intermediate filaments to strengthen tissues like kidney tubules. 4) Hemidesmosomes anchor the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix like in skin and prevent blistering from diseases. 5) Gap junctions directly transfer small molecules and ions between cells, allowing for electrical signaling without neurotransmitters.

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Joshua Mari De Ocampo
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DE OCAMPO 3BIO4

INTERCELLULAR
JUNCTIONS

Intercellular junctions are cell structures that provide adhesion and permit
communication between cells. These may be present in other types of tissues but
are mostly found on epithelial cells ,and are characterized by their strong
attachment to one another and to extracellular matrix.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTERCELLULAR JUNCTIONS

describes, that there is a


formed band of tight junctions which encircles every cell. The main tight
junction forms a seal between the two membranes. This seal consists of the
transmembrane proteins caudin and occludin and provide transcellular
and paracellular transport of molecules, but prevent passive flow between
cells. One example is the epithelia of the Human lung.

consist of actin filaments


as cytoskeletal component. Adherens junctions provide strong mechanical
attachments between adjacent cells. Provide points linking the
cytoskeletons of adjacent cells; strenghtens and stabilizes nearby tight
junctions. This is evident in the cardiac muscle. They hold cardiac
muscle cells tightly together as the heart expands and contracts.

provides points of strong intermediate


filament coupling between adjacent cells, strengthening the tissue. They are
matched to other desmosomes of adjacent cellsand contain proteins from the
cadherin family. These proteins connect together to a dense attachment of
anchoring proteins to provide points to which strong intermediate filament can bind.
The result is a strong adhesion among the cells. Example of this is the kidney tubules.

anchors the cytoskeleton to the basal lamina. They tie as well


as desmosomes intermediate filaments in cytoplasm, but contain mainly the
transmembrane link protein integrin, which binds extracellular macromolecules
laminin and collagen type IV. The integrings serve in this way a strong adhesion to
the basal lamina. Pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease in which the patient
develops antibodies against proteins (integrins) in hemidesmosomes. This, too, causes
severe blistering of epithelia.

The major function of gap junctions is the direct


transfer and exchange of nutrients and signal molecules between the cells. This
allows direct transfer of small molecules and ions from one cell to another. A gap
junction consists of proteins named connexin. Example of a gap junction is the so-
called electrical synapses in the brain, gap junctions permit the arrival of an action
potential at the synaptic terminals to be transmitted across to the postsynaptic cell
without the delay needed for release of a neurotransmitter.

Source/s: http://www.biology-pages.info/J/Junctions.html | http://bit.ly/2w12g2Q | Junqueiras Basic Histology 14th edition

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