Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

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...
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...
Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Impact of BECLIN1 haploinsufficiency on goblet cell function and susceptibility to colitis.

Cell death & disease·2026
Same author

SPACA9 and MNMIP1 bridge the seam of spermatid manchette microtubules.

The EMBO journal·2026
Same author

Slow but steady: Molecular mechanisms controlling microtubule growth in centrioles and cilia.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same author

Author Correction: Development of the fluorescent probe CenSpark for labeling centrioles and cilia.

Nature chemical biology·2026
Same author

Microtubule organization and molecular architecture of ciliary basal bodies in multiciliated airway cells.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

Development of the fluorescent probe CenSpark for labeling centrioles and cilia.

Nature chemical biology·2026
Same journal

A viral ORFeome library for systems-level genetic dissection of host-pathogen interactions.

Cell·2026
Same journal

Co-option of lysosomal machinery shapes the evolution of the intracellular photosymbiosis supporting coral reefs.

Cell·2026
Same journal

LEF1 and niche factors determine T cell stemness across chronic diseases.

Cell·2026
Same journal

Recurrent patterns of TOP1-mediated neuronal genomic damage shared by major neurodegenerative disorders.

Cell·2026
Same journal

Four-dimensional molecular mapping from a spatial snapshot reveals the dynamics of hair follicle organogenesis.

Cell·2026
Same journal

Whole-cell particle-based digital twin simulations from 4D lattice light-sheet microscopy data.

Cell·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Immunostaining and Dye Penetration Experiments to Define Core Pleated Septate Junction Proteins in Drosophila Embryonic Epithelia
09:37

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

Published on: February 27, 2026

Organizing junctions at the cell-cell interface.

Anna Akhmanova1, Alpha S Yap

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands. a.akhmanova@erasmusmc.nl

Cell
|December 2, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers discovered a protein complex linking microtubules to cadherins, crucial for the specialized structure between epithelial cells called the zonula adherens. This finding is key for understanding zonula adherens biogenesis and maintenance.

More Related Videos

Dissection of Organizer and Animal Pole Explants from Xenopus laevis Embryos and Assembly of a Cell Adhesion Assay
14:21

Dissection of Organizer and Animal Pole Explants from Xenopus laevis Embryos and Assembly of a Cell Adhesion Assay

Published on: April 29, 2007

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface
13:22

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface

Published on: November 2, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Immunostaining and Dye Penetration Experiments to Define Core Pleated Septate Junction Proteins in Drosophila Embryonic Epithelia
09:37

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

Published on: February 27, 2026

Dissection of Organizer and Animal Pole Explants from Xenopus laevis Embryos and Assembly of a Cell Adhesion Assay
14:21

Dissection of Organizer and Animal Pole Explants from Xenopus laevis Embryos and Assembly of a Cell Adhesion Assay

Published on: April 29, 2007

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface
13:22

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface

Published on: November 2, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Epithelial biology

Background:

  • The zonula adherens (ZA) is a critical intercellular junction in epithelial tissues, mediating cell-cell adhesion through cadherins.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating ZA formation and stability is essential for tissue integrity.

Discussion:

  • Meng et al. identified a novel protein complex involving Nezha, a microtubule minus-end-binding protein.
  • This complex establishes a direct link between the microtubule cytoskeleton and cadherin-based adhesion complexes.

Key Insights:

  • Nezha acts as a molecular bridge, connecting microtubules to the zonula adherens.
  • This interaction is vital for both the biogenesis (assembly) and maintenance (stability) of ZA structures.

Outlook:

  • Further investigation into this Nezha-mediated pathway could reveal new therapeutic targets for diseases involving epithelial barrier dysfunction.
  • This discovery opens new avenues for studying the interplay between cytoskeletal dynamics and cell adhesion in various biological contexts.