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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 ...
Schematic of cell adhesion. Cell adhesion is the process by which cells interact and attach to neighbouring cells through specialised molecules of the cell surface. This process can occur either through direct contact between cell surfaces such as cell junctions or indirect interaction, where cells attach to surrounding extracellular matrix, a gel-like structure containing molecules released ...
Spot-like adherens junctions called focal adhesions help cells adhere to extracellular matrix. The cytoskeletal actin filaments that tie into adherens junctions are contractile proteins and in addition to providing an anchoring function, adherens junctions are thought to participate in folding and bending of epithelial cell sheets.
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.
Cadherins (named for "calcium-dependent adhesion") are cell adhesion molecules important in forming adherens junctions that let cells adhere to each other. [1] Cadherins are a class of type-1 transmembrane proteins, and they depend on calcium (Ca 2+) ions to function, hence their name.
The role of JAM-1 in tight junction biology is to function through mediation partly due to the localization of the Par-αPKC complex at adherens junctions during junction creation. [3] Once the tight junction is formed, many JAM-1 proteins are present, many of which are now phosphorylated at Ser285. [3]
E-cadherin (epithelial) is the most well-studied member of the cadherin family and is an essential transmembrane protein within adherens junctions. In addition to E-cadherin, adherens junctions are composed of the intracellular components, p120-catenin, beta-catenin, and alpha-catenin. [16]
Adherens junctions require significant protein dynamics in order to link to the actin cytoskeleton, [35] thereby enabling mechanotransduction. [37] [38] An important component of the adherens junctions are the cadherin proteins. Cadherins form the cell–cell junctional structures known as adherens junctions as well as the desmosomes. Cadherins ...