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Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata

The organs in a multicellular organism’s body are made up of tissues formed by cells. To work together cohesively, cells must communicate. One way that cells communicate is through direct contact with other cells. The points of contact that connect adjacent cells are called intercellular junctions.Intercellular junctions are a feature of fungal, plant, and animal cells alike. However, different types of junctions are found in different kinds of cells. Intercellular junctions found in animal...

Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata

In a multicellular organism, cells must communicate to work together in a coordinated manner. One way that cells communicate is through direct contact with other cells. The points of contact that connect adjacent cells are called intercellular junctions.
Intercellular junctions are a feature of fungal, plant, and animal cells. However, different types of junctions are found in different kinds of cells. Intercellular junctions found in animal cells include tight junctions, gap junctions, and...

Gap Junctions

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 Junctions

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...

Contact-dependent Signaling

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...

Tight Junctions

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Standardized Method to Detect Tunneling Nanotubes in Human Skin Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications

Standardized Method to Detect Tunneling Nanotubes in Human Skin Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications

Published on: January 13, 2026

Prions tunnel between cells.

Hans-Hermann Gerdes¹

¹Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway. hans-hermann.gerdes@biomed.uib.no

Nature Cell Biology

|March 4, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Prions, infectious proteins causing neurodegenerative diseases, can spread through tunnelling nanotubes. This study reveals these nanotubes are key for prion intercellular transfer during neuroinvasion.

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Area of Science:

Neurobiology
Infectious Diseases
Cell Biology

Background:

Prions are misfolded proteins responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
The mechanism of prion spread from peripheral sites to the central nervous system remains unclear.
Understanding prion neuroinvasion is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies.

Discussion:

This research investigates the role of tunnelling nanotubes in prion dissemination.
The study provides evidence for tunnelling nanotubes facilitating cell-to-cell prion transfer.
These findings shed light on the pathways of prion spread within the host.

Key Insights:

Tunnelling nanotubes are identified as a significant route for intercellular prion transport.
This mechanism contributes to the neuroinvasion process, enabling prions to reach the brain.
The discovery offers a novel perspective on prion pathogenesis.

Outlook:

Further research can explore targeting tunnelling nanotubes to inhibit prion spread.
Investigating nanotube-mediated prion transfer may reveal new diagnostic markers.
This work opens avenues for understanding intercellular transport in other protein misfolding diseases.