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Adherens Junctions

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...

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...

Anchoring Junctions

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:...

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

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 Junctions

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...

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Static Adhesion Assay for the Study of Integrin Activation in T Lymphocytes

Static Adhesion Assay for the Study of Integrin Activation in T Lymphocytes

Published on: June 13, 2014

Adherens junctions remain dynamic.

Matthias M Falk¹

¹Department of Biology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA. mfalk@lehigh.edu

|April 10, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Adherens junctions (AJs) connect cells and provide tissue strength. New research shows a dynamic VE-cadherin-based AJ type links stress fibers in vascular endothelial cells, challenging classical AJ organization.

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Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

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Area of Science:

Cell biology
Molecular and cellular biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Adherens junctions (AJs) are crucial for tissue integrity and homeostasis in vertebrates.
Classical AJ organization involves cadherins, beta-catenins, and alpha-catenins connecting to the actin cytoskeleton.
This classical model has been challenged by emerging evidence of alternative AJ structures.

Discussion:

Millán et al. demonstrate a novel, dynamic VE-cadherin-based AJ in vascular endothelial cells.
This AJ type physically connects tension-mediating actin stress fibers between adjacent cells.
This finding contrasts with the known linkage of stress fibers to focal adhesion complexes, not AJs.

Key Insights:

A new class of adherens junctions dynamically links actin stress fibers in vascular endothelial cells.
This discovery expands our understanding of AJ diversity and function beyond classical models.
VE-cadherin-based AJs can mediate tension transmission through stress fibers.

Outlook:

Different AJ subtypes, using the same cadherins, can adopt various configurations.
These configurations influence barrier function, cell-cell adhesion, or cell separation and migration.
Further research will elucidate the functional implications of these diverse AJ architectures.