Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

3.2K
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...
3.2K
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

5.8K
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
5.8K
Anchoring Junctions01:03

Anchoring Junctions

4.3K
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:...
4.3K
Desmosomes01:05

Desmosomes

7.5K
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...
7.5K
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

2.7K
In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue. 
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
2.7K
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

4.9K
A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker...
4.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Tissue mechanopathology of cancer.

Developmental cell·2026
Same author

Impact of BECLIN1 haploinsufficiency on goblet cell function and susceptibility to colitis.

Cell death & disease·2026
Same author

Bridging scales for cellular communities.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same author

Multiscale mechanisms driving tissue rupture by invading cells.

Developmental cell·2026
Same author

Capturing nematic order on tissue surfaces of arbitrary geometry.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

New directions in epithelial mechanoadaptation.

Current opinion in cell biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
08:15

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Published on: October 17, 2014

9.5K

Patterns in space: coordinating adhesion and actomyosin contractility at E-cadherin junctions.

Selwin Kaixiang Wu1, Alpha S Yap

  • 1Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia, Queensland , Australia.

Cell Communication & Adhesion
|November 12, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Cadherins actively regulate the actin cytoskeleton, influencing tissue organization and morphogenesis. This review explores cadherin-actin cooperation, focusing on E-cadherin and contractility patterns in epithelial development.

More Related Videos

Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads
07:55

Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads

Published on: March 8, 2017

8.1K
Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer
10:34

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer

Published on: April 23, 2017

6.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 6, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
08:15

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Published on: October 17, 2014

9.5K
Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads
07:55

Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads

Published on: March 8, 2017

8.1K
Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer
10:34

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer

Published on: April 23, 2017

6.4K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cadherins are crucial for tissue structure and are increasingly recognized for their active role.
  • Classical cadherins interact dynamically with the actin cytoskeleton, not just passively resist forces.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in cadherin-actin cytoskeleton cooperativity.
  • To highlight the role of E-cadherin in epithelial patterning.
  • To discuss how contractility patterns drive tissue morphogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cadherin-actin interactions.
  • Analysis of E-cadherin adhesive patterning in epithelia.
  • Examination of cellular rearrangement models (Drosophila germband extension, epithelial cell extrusion).

Main Results:

  • Cadherins actively regulate actin cytoskeleton assembly and mechanics.
  • Spatial patterning of adhesion and contractility are key to morphogenesis.
  • Planar and apical-lateral contractility patterns organize tissue architecture.

Conclusions:

  • Cadherin-actin cooperation is fundamental to tissue organization and development.
  • Understanding these interactions provides insights into morphogenesis and disease.
  • E-cadherin and contractility patterns are critical for epithelial development.