CELL JUNCTIONS
Mrs. OFELIA SOLANO SALUDAR
Department of Natural Sciences
University of St. La Salle
Bacolod City
Cell junctions are the structures
CELL JUNCTIONS where long term association between
neighboring cells are established.
The 3 most common kinds of cell
junctions are adhesive junctions,
tight junctions and gap junctions.
Adhesive junctions (desmosomes,
hemidesmosomes and adherens
junctions) link adjoining cells to each
other and to the ECM.
Although adhesive junction types are
similar in structure and function, they
contain distinct intracellular
attachment proteins and
transmembrane linker proteins.
The intracellular attachment proteins form a thick layer of fibrous material
on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane called a plaque which binds
actin microfilaments in adherens junctions and intermediate filaments in
desmosomes and hemidesmosomes.
The transmembrane linker protein is anchored to the plaque by the
cytoplasmic domain and binds the ECM or to the same proteins on other
cells.
Distribution of
cell junctions
in 3 domains
of epithelial
cells.
ZONULA
OCCLUDENSe
xtends around
the entire
perimeter of the
cell, but
typically located
near the apex.
Also known as terminal
bars, tight or occluding
junctions
Tight junctions consist of
fused ridges of tightly packed
transmembrane junctional
proteins.
Tight junctions block lateral
movement of lipids and
membrane proteins to keep
a cell polarized. They leave
no space between plasma
membranes of adjacent cells
to prevent the movement of
molecules across cell layers.
Sodium/glucose symport
proteins and export by
glucose transport proteins
on the basolateral surface
and tight junctions prevent
the lateral movement of
these transport proteins.
ZONULA ADHERENS (intermediate junction, belt
desmosomes) is basal to the zonula ocludens. The
adjacent plasma membranes are separated by a gap of
15-20 nm, filled with an electron dense plaque
containing a glycoprotein localized only in the
membrane, (adherens junction-specific cell adhesion
molecule or A-CAM or E-cadherin).
Myosin,
tropomyosin,
α-actinin, and
vinculin, actin-
containing
microfilaments
insert into the
plaque to stabilize
the junction
between epithelial
cells, fibroblasts,
smooth muscle
cells and at
intercalated discs.
MACULA ADHERENS or
DESMOSOMES are bipartite
structures of apposing cell
membranes. An attachment
plaque on the cytoplasmic side
anchors tonofilaments which are
intermediate filaments.
Desmosomes form strong points
of adhesion between cells in a
tissue such that two adjoining
cells are separated by a thin space
of 25-35 nm, the desmosome
core, in which cadherin
molecules mediate cell-cell
adhesion.
The plaques on the inner surfaces of cells joined by
desmosomes have a mixture of intracellular attachment
proteins (desmoplakins and plakoglobin) which interact
with the tonofilament intermediate filaments.
Adherens junctions called FOCAL ADHESION can join a cell to
the ECM, primarily through fibronectin receptors.
HEMIDESMOSOMES connect a cell, through a plaque, to the basal
lamina (ECM) by integrins. As in desmosomes, hemidesmosomes
interact with tonofilament intermediate filaments. Adherens junctions
resemble desmosomes
except two adjoining cells are
separated by a thin space of
20-25 nm and connect to actin
microfilaments
in the cytoplasm.
Some of the
transmembrane
glycoproteins are
cadherins.
Hemidesmosomes occur
at most basal surface of
stratified squamous
epithelia where the
superficial layer lack
junctional complexes,
and the basal cells are
exposed to the
underlying CT.
They serve mainly as sites of
attachment for the actin-based
contractile system of the cytoplasm.
GAP JUNCTIONS (NEXUS)
separate cells by 2-3 nm and allow
direct electrical and chemical
communication.
The nexus is a site where there is no actual fusion of membranes, and the
gap is bridged by a connexon. These are tightly packed 7 nm wide hollow
cylinders in two adjacent cell membranes that form a 3 nm thin
hydrophilic channel that allows the passage of small molecules and ions.
The connexons of each membrane link to form continuous pores
that bridge the intercellular gap, allowing passage of ions, cyclic
AMP, amino acids and other small molecules.
As sites of electronic coupling (reduced resistance to ion flow), it
is the only type of junction mediating flow of current between
cells important in intercellular communication and coordination.
An influx of calcium ions results in the closure of their channels,
preventing spread of damage to other cells.
Also found between osteocytes, astrocytes, cardiac muscle cells,
smooth muscle cells, & endocrine cells.
Cancer cells generally do not have gap junctions, so that cells
fail to communicate their mitotic activity to each other, which
may explain their uncontrolled growth.
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