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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another  cell. These cell junctions are classified  into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another  cell. These cell junctions are classified  into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...
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...
Gap Junctions01:27

Gap Junctions

The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...
Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
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:...

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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Immunostaining and Dye Penetration Experiments to Define Core Pleated Septate Junction Proteins in Drosophila Embryonic Epithelia
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Intercellular junctions in myriapods.

R Dallai1, E Bigliardi, N J Lane

  • 1Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva, Universita' di Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.

Tissue & Cell
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Myriapod intestinal tracts feature pleated septate junctions in the foregut and hindgut, and smooth septate junctions in the midgut, with unique intramembranous particle arrangements. These junctions share similarities with other arthropods but exhibit distinct organizational subtleties.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Zoology
  • Arthropod Anatomy

Background:

  • Cellular junctions are crucial for tissue integrity and function in multicellular organisms.
  • Septate junctions, a hallmark of invertebrates, play vital roles in maintaining epithelial barriers.
  • Understanding junctional complexity in diverse arthropod groups like myriapods offers insights into evolutionary adaptations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and characterize the ultrastructure of junctional complexes in the intestinal tracts of myriapods (millipedes, centipedes, pauropods).
  • To compare the organization of septate and gap junctions across different regions of the myriapod gut.
  • To elucidate the intramembranous organization of these junctions using freeze-fracture electron microscopy.

Main Methods:

  • Examination of intestinal tissues from millipedes, centipedes, and pauropods.
  • Utilized tracer-impregnated thin sections for ultrastructural analysis.
  • Employed freeze-fracture replica electron microscopy to visualize intramembranous particle arrangements.

Main Results:

  • Foregut and hindgut exhibit pleated septate junctions with undulating ribbons and parallel intramembranous particle (IMP) arrays.
  • Hindgut tissues also possess scalariform junctions with cross-striated clefts and IMP-enriched membranes.
  • Midgut displays smooth septate junctions, with variable IMP organization in replicas, particularly in centipedes, forming network-like patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Myriapod intestinal junctions are broadly similar to those in other arthropods but possess unique intramembranous organizational features.
  • Variations in IMP disposition and junctional morphology suggest functional adaptations within the myriapod digestive system.
  • The study highlights the diversity of junctional structures within the Myriapoda phylum.