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Related Concept Videos

Desmosomes01:05

Desmosomes

7.2K
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...
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Anchoring Junctions01:03

Anchoring Junctions

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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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Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

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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
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Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

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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...
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Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

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Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
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Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

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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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Desmosomes in vivo.

David Garrod1

  • 1Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.

Dermatology Research and Practice
|July 31, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Desmosomal adhesion in tissues is typically calcium-independent and "hyperadhesive," crucial for tissue strength. This contrasts with calcium-dependent desmosomes often studied in culture, with implications for diseases like pemphigus.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell adhesion
  • Molecular biology
  • Tissue engineering

Background:

  • Desmosomes are critical cell-cell adhesion structures essential for tissue integrity.
  • In vivo, desmosomal adhesion is predominantly calcium-independent and termed 'hyperadhesion', contributing significantly to tissue strength.
  • Studies in cell culture often utilize calcium-dependent desmosomes, which differ from the in vivo state.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the structure, function, and regulation of desmosomal adhesion in vivo.
  • To highlight the distinction between calcium-independent hyperadhesion and calcium-dependent adhesion.
  • To explore the molecular basis and regulatory mechanisms of desmosomal hyperadhesion.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on desmosome structure and function.
  • Analysis of ultrastructural studies identifying the intercellular midline in hyperadhesive desmosomes.
  • Discussion of biochemical pathways, including protein kinase C and tyrosine kinases, involved in desmosome regulation.

Main Results:

  • Most in vivo desmosomes exhibit calcium-independent hyperadhesion, vital for tissue strength.
  • Hyperadhesion is linked to ordered extracellular cadherin domains and molecular organization within the desmosomal plaque.
  • Protein kinase C downregulates hyperadhesion, with potential regulation by tyrosine kinases.

Conclusions:

  • Desmosomal hyperadhesion is a key feature of intact tissues, contrasting with conditions in cell culture.
  • The ordered structure of desmosomes underlies their strong adhesive properties.
  • Dysregulation of desmosomal adhesion, including hyperadhesion, has implications for diseases such as pemphigus.