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Related Concept Videos

Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Desmosomes01:05

Desmosomes

The term desmosome derives from the Greek words "desmo" and "soma" meaning "adhesion bodies." This structure was first observed during the late 1800s and described as small, dense nodules in the epidermis. Desmosomes are button-like structures that help form an interlinked network of intermediate filaments across the cells. These junctions are  essential to hold cells together under mechanical stress and to maintain tissue integrity. Desmosomes are multi-protein complexes comprising desmosomal...
Anchoring Junctions01:03

Anchoring Junctions

Anchoring junctions are multiprotein complexes that help cells connect to other cells and the extracellular matrix. Anchoring junctions are present on the lateral and basal surfaces of cells, providing strong and flexible connections. Focal adhesions are often formed due to cell interactions with the ECM substrata, which initiate signal transduction via kinase cascades and other mechanisms. Together, they provide stability and tissue integrity. There are three types of anchoring junctions:...
Tight Junctions01:29

Tight Junctions

Tight junctions are molecular seals between cells that prevent the leaking of fluids, ions, and other small solutes across cavities and compartments in multicellular organisms. They are mainly composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, and other proteins such as tricellulin and JAM (junctional adhesion molecule). All these proteins are 4-pass transmembrane proteins, except JAM, which is a single-pass transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The...
Cell Adhesion in Plants01:14

Cell Adhesion in Plants

Plants have rigid cell walls that are made up of cell wall polysaccharides that mediate cell-cell adhesion. The primary cell walls of plants consist of two independent and interacting polysaccharide networks: a pectin matrix that embeds the second network comprising cellulose and hemicelluloses.
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose, and...

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Related Experiment Video

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An Endothelial Planar Cell Model for Imaging Immunological Synapse Dynamics
09:25

An Endothelial Planar Cell Model for Imaging Immunological Synapse Dynamics

Published on: December 24, 2015

Adhesions ring: a structural comparison between podosomes and the immune synapse.

Sarah A Wernimont1, Christa L Cortesio, William T N Simonson

  • 1Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

European Journal of Cell Biology
|March 18, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Podosomes and immune synapses are cell adhesion structures with similar ring-like shapes and protein compositions. This review highlights their shared regulatory mechanisms and functions in cell biology.

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Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

An Endothelial Planar Cell Model for Imaging Immunological Synapse Dynamics
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Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse
09:37

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Published on: December 26, 2019

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Immune Synapse in the Human System Using Imaging Flow Cytometry
08:35

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Immune Synapse in the Human System Using Imaging Flow Cytometry

Published on: January 7, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Podosomes and immune synapses are critical cell adhesion structures.
  • Both structures exhibit a conserved ring-like morphology with a central core and peripheral ring.
  • Key proteins like talin, vinculin, and paxillin are found in the peripheral rings of both structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the structure, function, and regulation of podosomes and immune synapses.
  • To highlight the parallels in the formation and regulation of these adhesive structures.
  • To provide a comprehensive review of current knowledge on podosomes and immune synapses.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review
  • Comparative analysis of structural and regulatory mechanisms
  • Functional assessment of podosomes and immune synapses

Main Results:

  • Podosomes and immune synapses share significant structural and molecular similarities.
  • Regulatory pathways governing the formation of podosomes and immune synapses show striking parallels.
  • Both structures play crucial roles in cell adhesion, migration, and immune cell interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Podosomes and immune synapses represent convergent evolutionary solutions for cell adhesion.
  • Understanding their shared regulatory mechanisms can offer insights into broader cell signaling pathways.
  • Further research into these structures may reveal novel therapeutic targets in immunology and cancer biology.