CELL JUNCTION
Presented by Laxmi Ghimire
12th batch,CAC,NSU,Dang
Definition
Cell junction is the connection between neighboring cells
or the contact between the cell and extra cellular matrix.
It is also known as junctional complexes.
Connection between two cells is called intercellular
junction.
Classification
Cell junctions are classified into 3 types.
Occluding junctions
Anchoring junctions
Communicating junctions
OCCLUDING JUNCTIONS
Cell junction which prevents intercellular exchange of substance i.e
ions and molecules are called occluding junctions.
These are multiprotein junctional complexes , which prevents the
leakage of transported solutes, water and seals the paracellular
pathway.
It is also known as tight junction.
It is mostly present in vertebrates.
Tight junctions may also serves as leaky pathway by forming
selective channels for small cations, anions,or water.
They are typically found towards the apical region of the cells.
Tight junction is made up of ridge which has two halves . One half
of the ridge is from one cell and another half is from other cells.
Types:
Tight epithelial have junctions that prevents most
movement between cell,found in Distal Convoluted
Tubules , Collecting Ducts , Bile Duct.
Leaky epithelial do not have this tight junction or have
less complex tight junctions , found in Proximal
Convoluted Tubules.
Proteins of the tight junctions
The actual part of the protein that
expands through the cell membrane
out to the extra cellular component
and attached to the cell is claudin and
occludin.
On the side of the Cytosol , there is
zone occludin which is bounded with
occludin and claudin.
The last protein on the outer side
which is bounded to zona occludin is
actin filaments.
Functions of tight junctions
1) Strength and Stability:
It holds the neighboring cells of the tissues firmly and thus provides
strength and stability to the tissues.
2) Selective Permeability:
Form selective permeability barrier that prevent transport of
macromolecules from the luminal fluid into the interstitial space.But
some small sized water soluble particles are permitted through tight
junctions like K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+ etc.
3) Blood-brain Barrier:
Tight junctions in the brain capillaries forms the blood-brain
barrier.Prevents the entrance of many substances from capillary blood
into brain tissues. (only lipid soluble substances like drugs and steroid
hormones can pass through the blood brain barrier).
4) Fencing Function:
It prevents the lateral movement of proteins (integral membrane proteins)
and lipids in cell membrane and thus acts as a fence.So, sometimes it
referred as impermeable junction.
APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
Diseases caused by mutation of genes encoding proteins of tight junction:
1. Hereditary deafness
2. Ichthyosis (scaly skin)
3. Sclerosing cholangitis (inflammation of bile duct causing obstruction)
4. Hereditary hypomagnesemia (low level of magnesium in the blood).
5. Synovial sarcoma (soft tissue cancer)
Anchoring junctions
Cell junctions that are anchored to one another and attached to
components of the extra cellular matrix.
They are commonly found in tissues that are prone to constant
machanical stress, eg. Skin and heart.
There are two types:
1) cell-cell anchoring junctions
2) cell- basal lamina anchoring junctions
Cell –cell anchoring junctions:
Further divided into two types.
1) Desmosomes
2) Adherence junctions
Desmosomes
Also known as Macula adherins
In simple epithelium they are randomly distributed along the plasma
membrane.
In straified epithelium they are distributed through out the plasma
membrane.
It is also found in cardiac muscle cells.
Characterized by focal thickening of two adjacent cell
membranes.
Intermediary filaments from cytosol are attached to the
thickened areas
.The intercellular space between the two membrane
thickenings contains filamentous cell adhesion materials -
desmogleins and cadherins ( transmembrane proteins).
Cell membrane in the region of junction are seen further
apart than usual gap.
Two types of glycoproteins are present
1. Desmocolins
2. Desmogleins
These provide adherence.
Adherence Junction
It look like a belt in the junction.
It is not fused to the cell membrane.
The intercellular gap is occupied by a trans membranous
glycoprotein called "E-cadherin".
E-cadherin is linked to adherent protein in cytoplasm like
catenin and vinculin.
Located below the base of tight junctions.
Is the major site of attachment for intracellular
microfilaments which connects the actin filaments
of one cell to those of another cell.
Cadherins and other substances are present in the
intercellular space at this junction & tight the
membrane of adjacent cells.
Cell –Basal lamina Anchoring Junctions
Two types:
1)Hemidesmosomes
2)Focal adhesions
Hemidesmosomes
It is cell to matrix junction.
It connects the intermediate filaments of the
cell to the extra cellular matrix
This is like half desmosomes and the
thickening of membrane of only one cell
occurs. So, this is known as Hemidesmosomes
or half desmosomes.
The protein involved in this are integrins.
Focal Adhesions
Focal adhesions connect cell to the basal lamina.
Spot-like adherens junctions.
They are sites of signal transduction, initiating signaling
pathway in response to adhesion.
Intracellulary , they are associated with actin filament.
Communicating Junctions
Cell junction which permits the intro cellular exchange of the
substances are called communicating junctions.
This junction permits the movement of the ions and molecules
from one cell to another cell.
Gap junction are the communicating junctions.
Gap Junction
A gap junction is called a nexus or macula
communicants.
6 Connexins were observed to form connexon, due to
the connections connexon pairs made between cells.
There are two connexon protein in the cell junction all
together 12 connexins present in the gap junction.
It is found in heart.
It helps in exchange of chemical messengers between
the cells.
Than
k You
!
