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In cell biology, adherens junctions (or zonula adherens, intermediate junction, or "belt desmosome" [1]) are protein complexes that occur at cell–cell junctions and cell–matrix junctions in epithelial and endothelial tissues, [2] usually more basal than tight junctions. An adherens junction is defined as a cell junction whose cytoplasmic ...
A desmosome (/ ˈ d ɛ z m ə ˌ s oʊ m /; [1] [2] "binding body"), also known as a macula adherens (plural: maculae adherentes) (Latin for adhering spot), is a cell structure specialized for cell-to-cell adhesion. A type of junctional complex, they are localized spot-like adhesions randomly arranged on the lateral sides of plasma membranes.
Cell–cell junctions can occur in different forms. In anchoring junctions between cells such as adherens junctions and desmosomes, the main CAMs present are the cadherins. This family of CAMs are membrane proteins that mediate cell–cell adhesion through its extracellular domains and require extracellular Ca 2+ ions to function correctly. [2]
Adherens junctions share the characteristic of anchoring cells through their cytoplasmic actin filaments. Similarly to desmosomes and hemidesmosomes, their transmembrane anchors are composed of cadherins in those that anchor to other cells and integrins (focal adhesion) in those that anchor to extracellular matrix.
The most common are E-, N- and P-cadherins. In the adherens junctions of epithelial cells, E-cadherin is the most abundant. [1] Desmosomes also provide strength and durability to cells and tissues and are located just below adherens junctions. They are sites of adhesion and do not encircle the cell.
The '2' and '3' isoforms of desmocollin and desmoglein are expressed in the lower epidermal layers, and the '1' proteins and desmoglein-4 are expressed in the upper epidermal layers. Different isoforms are located in the same individual cells, and single desmosomes contain more than one isoform of both desmocollin and desmoglein. [4]
The three types of cell junction recognised as making up an intercalated disc are desmosomes, fascia adherens junctions, and gap junctions. [2] Fascia adherens are anchoring sites for actin, and connect to the closest sarcomere. [3] Desmosomes prevent separation during contraction by binding intermediate filaments, anchoring the cell membrane ...
There are mainly 5 different types of cell junctions: tight junctions, adherens junctions, desmosomes, hemidesmosomes, and gap junctions. Tight junctions are a pair of trans-membrane protein fused on outer plasma membrane. Adherens junctions are a plaque (protein layer on the inside plasma membrane) which attaches both cells' microfilaments.