CELL JUNCTION
SAURABH MARU
A S S I S TA N T P R O F E S S O R
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY & TECHNOLOGY
M A N A G E M E N T,
SVKM’S NMIMS, SHIRPUR
• Cells are tightly joined into functional units
• Cell junctions are contact points between the plasma
membranes of tissue cells
• Following are the five most important types of cell junctions:
• Tight Junctions
• Adherens Junctions
• Desmosomes
• Hemidesmosomes
• Gap Junctions
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TIGHT JUNCTIONS
• Consist of web like strands of
transmembrane proteins that fuse together
the outer surfaces of adjacent plasma
membranes to seal off passageways between
adjacent cells
• Epithelial tissues that line the stomach,
intestines, urinary bladder
• Prevent the contents of organs from leaking
into blood or surrounding tissues
ADHERENS JUNCTIONS
• Contain plaque, a dense layer of
proteins on inside of plasma membrane
that attaches both to membrane
proteins and to microfilaments of
cytoskeleton
• Transmembrane glycoproteins called
cadherins join the cells
• Adherens junctions help epithelial
surfaces resist separation during
various contractile activities
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DESMOSOMES
• Contain plaque and have transmembrane glycoproteins (cadherins) that extend
into intercellular space between adjacent cell membranes and attach cells to
one another
• Plaque of desmosomes does not attach to microfilaments
• It attaches to elements of the cytoskeleton –intermediate filaments, which
consist of protein keratin
• Intermediate filaments extend from desmosomes on one side to desmosomes
on opposite side of cell
• This structural arrangement contributes to stability of cells and tissue.
• Eg up the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin) and among cardiac
muscle cells in the heart.
• Prevent epidermal cells from separating under tension and cardiac muscle cells
from pulling apart during contraction.
HEMI-DESMOSOMES
• (hemi- half) resemble desmosomes, but they do not link adjacent cells. look
like half of a desmosome
• transmembrane glycoproteins in hemidesmosomes are integrins rather than
cadherins.
• Inside of plasma membrane, integrins attach to intermediate filaments made
of protein keratin.
• outside of plasma membrane, integrins attach to protein laminin, which is
present in the basement membrane
• It anchor cells not to each other but to the basement membrane
GAP JUNCTIONS
• Membrane proteins connexins form tiny fluid-filled tunnels called
connexions- connect neighboring cells
• Ions and small molecules can diffuse from the cytosol of one cell to
another,
• large molecules as vital intracellular proteins is prevented
• Plasma membranes of gap junctions -separated by a very narrow
intercellular gap.
• Transfer of nutrients, wastes, in avascular tissues as lens, cornea of eye
• In developing embryo, some chemical and electrical signals that regulate
growth and cell differentiation travel via gap junctions.
• Nerve conduction and muscle contraction in heart, git tract, and uterus
