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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:...

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 Adhesion in Plants

Cell Adhesion in Plants

Plants have rigid cell walls that are made up of cell wall polysaccharides that mediate cell-cell adhesion. The primary cell walls of plants consist of two independent and interacting polysaccharide networks: a pectin matrix that embeds the second network comprising cellulose and hemicelluloses.
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose, and...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 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 and stem cells.

Terry Lechler¹

¹Departments of Cell Biology and Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center, 310 Nanaline Duke Bldg, 3709, 27710, Durham, NC, USA, terry.lechler@duke.edu.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry

|June 8, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Adherens junctions are crucial for stem cell maintenance, division, and differentiation within specialized niches. These cell junctions play diverse roles in anchoring, proliferation, and signaling, impacting tissue development and homeostasis.

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

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

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Enumeration of Neural Stem Cells Using Clonal Assays

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Published on: October 4, 2016

Area of Science:

Stem cell biology
Cell adhesion
Tissue homeostasis

Background:

Stem cells reside in specialized niches essential for tissue development and maintenance.
Cell-cell interactions, particularly adherens junctions, are fundamental to niche structure and function.
Adherens junctions mediate critical stem cell behaviors including anchoring, proliferation, and differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the diverse functions of adherens junctions in stem cell biology.
To summarize current knowledge on adherens junction roles in mammalian tissues and pluripotent stem cells.
To highlight the integrated nature of adherens junction functions within tissue anatomy and physiology.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on stem cell niches and adherens junctions.
Analysis of model stem cell systems illustrating adherens junction functions.
Synthesis of data on adherens junction roles in mammalian and pluripotent stem cells.

Main Results:

Adherens junctions perform varied functions including physical niche anchoring, control of cell division orientation, and regulation of signaling pathways.
These junctions are integral to stem cell differentiation processes.
Their roles are closely linked to the specific anatomical and physiological context of the tissue.

Conclusions:

Adherens junctions are versatile regulators of stem cell behavior within their niches.
Their functions are diverse and context-dependent, impacting multiple aspects of stem cell fate and tissue homeostasis.
Understanding adherens junctions is key to comprehending stem cell biology and tissue development.