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Related Concept Videos

Desmosomes01:05

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...
Anchoring Junctions01:03

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:...
Structure of Cadherins01:25

Structure of Cadherins

The cadherins were one of the first cell adhesion molecules discovered; the term “cadherins”   is based on their calcium-dependent adhering properties. The first cadherins discovered on the epithelial, neuronal, and placental cells were named E-cadherin, P-cadherin, and N-cadherin, respectively. These classical cadherins share sequence and structural similarities. Other cadherins, including those involved in cell signaling, are grouped into non-classical cadherins. This diversity of cadherins...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

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 cytoskeletal...
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
Tight...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Measuring Interactions of Globular and Filamentous Proteins by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Microscale Thermophoresis (MST)
10:28

Measuring Interactions of Globular and Filamentous Proteins by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Microscale Thermophoresis (MST)

Published on: November 2, 2018

Structure, function, and regulation of desmosomes.

Andrew P Kowalczyk1, Kathleen J Green

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science
|March 14, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Desmosomes are crucial cell adhesion structures linking cells mechanically via desmosomal cadherins and intermediate filaments. These junctions are vital for tissue integrity and are increasingly recognized for their roles in cell signaling, differentiation, and vertebrate tissue organization.

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Measuring Interactions of Globular and Filamentous Proteins by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Microscale Thermophoresis (MST)
10:28

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Published on: November 2, 2018

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale
08:49

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale

Published on: May 28, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Desmosomes are key adhesive intercellular junctions that mechanically link adjacent cells.
  • They connect desmosomal cadherins to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton via cytoplasmic plaque proteins like plakoglobin, plakophilins, and desmoplakin.
  • Dysfunction in desmosomes is implicated in various human diseases and is targeted by toxins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the established roles of desmosomal proteins in maintaining tissue integrity.
  • To highlight the emerging understanding of desmosomal proteins in cell signaling pathways.
  • To discuss the contribution of desmosomes to vertebrate tissue organization and differentiation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of desmosome structure and function.
  • Analysis of genetic and autoimmune factors affecting desmosome integrity.
  • Integration of findings on desmosomal protein involvement in signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Desmosomes provide mechanical integration through cadherin-cytoskeletal links.
  • Mutations, autoantibodies, and toxins targeting desmosomes compromise tissue integrity.
  • Desmosomal proteins are actively involved in cell signaling networks.

Conclusions:

  • Desmosomes are essential for tissue integrity and mechanical coupling.
  • Desmosomal proteins play significant roles beyond adhesion, including in cell signaling.
  • Further research into desmosome-signaling interactions is crucial for understanding tissue organization and differentiation.