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Contact-dependent Signaling

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
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Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.

Facilitated Transport

Facilitated Transport

The chemical and physical properties of plasma membranes cause them to be selectively permeable. Since plasma membranes have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, substances need to be able to transverse both regions. The hydrophobic area of membranes repels substances such as charged ions. Therefore, such substances need special membrane proteins to cross a membrane successfully. In facilitated transport, also known as facilitated diffusion, molecules and ions travel across a membrane via...

Tight Junctions

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Tight junctions are molecular seals between cells that prevent the leaking of fluids, ions, and other small solutes across cavities and compartments in multicellular organisms. They are mainly composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, and other proteins such as tricellulin and JAM (junctional adhesion molecule). All these proteins are 4-pass transmembrane proteins, except JAM, which is a single-pass transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The...

Gap Junctions

Gap Junctions

The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...

Intracellular Signaling Cascades

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Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Standardized Method to Detect Tunneling Nanotubes in Human Skin Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications

Standardized Method to Detect Tunneling Nanotubes in Human Skin Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications

Published on: January 13, 2026

Tunneling nanotubes, an emerging intercellular communication route in development.

Hans-Hermann Gerdes¹, Amin Rustom, Xiang Wang

¹University of Bergen, Department of Biomedicine, Jonas Lies vei 91, N-5009 Bergen, Norway. hans-hermann.gerdes@biomed.uib.no

Mechanisms of Development

|December 19, 2012

Summary

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are a novel form of cell-to-cell communication. This review highlights their role in electrical coupling during embryonic development and potential implications for cell migration.

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Cell Communication

Background:

Multicellular development relies on intricate cell-to-cell communication systems.
Existing pathways include receptor-mediated signaling and gap junctions.
Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) represent a newly identified intercellular connection.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the latest findings on the functional roles of TNTs in cell-to-cell signaling.
To focus on TNT-dependent electrical coupling in developing embryonic cells.
To discuss the implications of TNTs in developmental processes, especially cell migration.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent studies on tunneling nanotubes.
Analysis of in vitro and in vivo observations of TNTs.
Synthesis of data on TNT-mediated electrical coupling and cell migration.

Main Results:

TNTs are observed in diverse cell types in vitro and in vivo, including developing embryos.
TNTs facilitate direct cell-to-cell communication and electrical coupling.
Emerging evidence suggests TNTs play roles in embryonic development and cell migration.

Conclusions:

TNTs are a significant, recently discovered mode of intercellular communication.
TNT-dependent electrical coupling is crucial for developing embryonic cells.
Further research into TNTs could reveal novel insights into developmental biology and cell migration.