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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...

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:...

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...

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...

Desmosomes

Desmosomes

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 complexes comprising desmosomal...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Published on: October 17, 2014

Adherens junction assembly.

Sergey Troyanovsky¹

¹Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 60611, Chicago, IL, USA, s-troyanovsky@northwestern.edu.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry

|June 8, 2012

Summary

Classical cadherins are key proteins for cell adhesion. Their adhesive clusters, crucial for cell junctions, are structured by complex interactions and influenced by other proteins, affecting stability.

Area of Science:

Cell biology
Molecular biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Classical cadherins are transmembrane proteins essential for cell-cell adhesion at adherens junctions.
Adherens junctions are critical for tissue integrity and cell communication.
Cadherin-mediated adhesion involves complex protein-protein interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the structural basis of cadherin-mediated cell adhesion.
To understand how extracellular cadherin domains interact to form adhesive clusters.
To investigate the role of accessory proteins in modulating cadherin cluster structure and stability.

Main Methods:

Structural analysis of cadherin ectodomains.
Biochemical assays to study protein-protein interactions.

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

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Cell-based assays to observe cadherin cluster formation and dynamics.

Main Results:

Cadherin adhesive clusters are formed through cis- and trans- interactions of cadherin ectodomains.
A key adhesive interaction involves the exchange of β strands between the first extracellular cadherin domains (EC1).
Accessory proteins, including nectins and intracellular proteins, modify the structure and stability of cadherin adhesive clusters.

Conclusions:

The structure and stability of cadherin adhesive clusters are determined by intricate interactions within the cadherin ectodomain and with other adherens junction proteins.
Understanding these molecular mechanisms is vital for comprehending tissue development, homeostasis, and disease.