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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
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Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions01:24

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...
Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
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...
Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...

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Visualization of Cell-Cell Interaction Contacts: Synapses and Kinapses.

Michael L Dustin1

  • 1Program in Molecular Pathogenesis; Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine and Department of Pathology; New York University School of Medicine; New York, NY USA.

Self/Nonself
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PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

T-cell activation involves stable immunological synapses and moving kinapses for cell interaction and signaling. These structures are crucial for T-cell priming and optimal function, presenting visualization challenges.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • T-cell activation relies on T-cell receptor (TCR) and peptide-MHC interactions at the T-cell/APC interface.
  • Stable adhesive junctions, termed immunological synapses, feature supramolecular activation clusters (SMACs) and facilitate directed secretion.
  • SMACs are proposed as higher-order membrane-cytoskeleton zones, analogous to those in amoeboid locomotion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and define the concept of a 'kinapse' as a moving junction for T-cell-APC interactions during locomotion.
  • To differentiate the roles of synapses and kinapses in T-cell priming and effector functions.
  • To discuss the challenges associated with visualizing these dynamic cellular structures in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual framework development based on existing literature and proposed analogies.
  • Comparative analysis of immunological synapses and kinapses in the context of T-cell function.
  • Discussion of in vitro and in vivo visualization techniques and their limitations.

Main Results:

  • Immunological synapses are stable junctions crucial for initial T-cell-APC contact and signaling.
  • Kinapses represent moving junctions, important for T-cells integrating signals during locomotion over APCs.
  • The cyclical interplay between synapses and kinapses may be essential for optimal T-cell effector functions.

Conclusions:

  • T-cell priming involves distinct but potentially cooperative roles for both stable synapses and moving kinapses.
  • Understanding kinapses expands our view of T-cell-APC interactions beyond static synapses.
  • Further research is needed to overcome visualization challenges and fully elucidate the in vivo dynamics of synapses and kinapses.