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Cell Junctions PDF

Cell junctions are specialized areas of the plasma membrane that provide contact between cells. There are four main types of cell junctions: tight junctions, adherens junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions. Tight junctions form belts between cells that prevent the passage of water and substances between cells. Adherens junctions and desmosomes hold cells tightly together and provide mechanical strength, especially in tissues subjected to stress like skin and cardiac muscle. Gap junctions directly connect the cytoplasms of adjacent cells and allow for the passage of molecules between cells.

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2K views4 pages

Cell Junctions PDF

Cell junctions are specialized areas of the plasma membrane that provide contact between cells. There are four main types of cell junctions: tight junctions, adherens junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions. Tight junctions form belts between cells that prevent the passage of water and substances between cells. Adherens junctions and desmosomes hold cells tightly together and provide mechanical strength, especially in tissues subjected to stress like skin and cardiac muscle. Gap junctions directly connect the cytoplasms of adjacent cells and allow for the passage of molecules between cells.

Uploaded by

yashbhanu7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Tight Junctions
  • Cell Junctions
  • Adherens Junctions
  • Desmosomes
  • Gap Junctions
  • Hemidesmosomes

Cell junctions

Plasma membrane areas specialized to provide


contact between cells
z

Cell Junctions

z
z

Cell junctions types based on


localization
z

Between cells
z
z
z

Belts of proteins that close


extracellular space between
cells
Prevent passage of water and
water-soluble substances
Account for electrical resistance
across epithelia

Adhering junctions
z
z
z

(4) hemidesmosomes

Tight junctions (zonula occludens)

Four classes of cell junctions

Cell junctions - types based on


function

(1) tight junctions


(2) adherens junctions and desmosomes
(3) gap junctions

Between cells and matrix

Dense clusters of cell adhesion molecules on the


outside
linked to cytoskeleton on the inside
through adapter proteins

(1) tight junctions


(2) adherens junctions and desmosomes
(4) hemidesmosomes

Communicating junctions
z

(3) gap junctions

Tight junctions
z

Isolate parts of plasma


membrane (apical and
basolateral)
Completely encircle
polarized cells
Look like honey comb

Molecular structure of tight junctions


z

z
z

Claudins (membrane
proteins) zip two membranes
together
Stabilized by spectrin
Connected to spectrin by
adapter proteins ZO1 and
ZO2

Regulation of tight junctions


z

Hormones
z

z
z
z

Vasopressin

Cytokines
Lack of ATP causes leak
Extravasating leukocytes open tight junctions

Molecular structure of adherens


junctions
z

Belt like junctions located just


below tight junction
Simple points of attachment, do
not contain channels connecting
the interiors of the two attached
cells

Regulation of tight junctions


z

The tightness varies according to the barrier


needs
Leaky epithelia where there is need for some
traffic

Adhesive junctions
z
z
z
z

Adherens junctions and desmosomes


Hold cells tightly together
Confer mechanical strength
Common in tissue that are subject to severe
stress such as skin and cardiac muscle

Adherens junctions
z

Homophilic pairing of Ecadherins


Adapter proteins
(plakoglobin and and
catenins) link cadherins to
the belt of actin filaments

Desmosomes
z

Button like welds joining opposing cell


membranes
Cadherins bind the membranes of adjacent cells
in a way that gives strength and rigidity to the
entire tissue

Molecular structure of desmosomes


z

z
z

Junctions that provide direct connections (door)


between cells
Channels or pores through the membranes of
two cells and across the intercellular space
Form electrical synapses
z

z
z
z
z
z
z

Plakoglobin and desmoplakin

Linked to epidermal keratins

Gap junctions
z
z

Integrate the metabolism of the cells


Metabolic coupling or metabolic cooperation
transfer of molecules that the neighboring cell
can not synthesize (second messengers,
precursors of DNA and RNA)

Direct transmission of action potential without


transmitter, receptors etc

Cells that use gap junctions


z

Desmoglein
Desmocollin

Adapter proteins
z

Gap junctions

Two cadherins

Skin epithelium
Endocrine glands
GI epithelium
Smooth muscle
Cardiac muscle
Osteocytes
Glial cells

Molecular structure of gap junction


z

A ring of 6 membrane proteins called connexins


- connexons
Two connexons on neighboring membranes
form a transmembrane channel that
interconnects the cytoplasms of two cells
Connexons are size filters

Regulation of gap junctions


z

Flip between open and closed states as other


channels do
Cells may modulate the degree of coupling
z
z
z

Cytoplasmic levels of Ca2+ and pH


Phosphorylation
Oleamide closes gap junctions and induces sleep

Hemidesmosomes
z

Similar to desmosomes but totally different


molecular structure
Cell-matrix adhesions attach
cells to basal lamina

Molecular structure of
hemidesmosomes
z

Composed of integrins (outside) that bind to type


XVII collagen and laminin-5
Cytosolic side consist of a plague composed of
adapter proteins (plectin) attaching integrins to
keratin filaments

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