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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

Structure of Cadherins

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...

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...

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...

Catenins

Catenins

Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 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 Junctions Revisualized: Organizing Cadherins as Nanoassemblies.

Alpha S Yap¹, Guillermo A Gomez¹, Robert G Parton¹

¹Division of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Program in Membrane Interface Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia.

Developmental Cell

|October 14, 2015

Summary

Classical cadherin cell-cell adhesion receptors form nanoscale lateral clusters, a key feature of their organization. Understanding these clusters reveals insights into cell adhesion mechanisms and plasma membrane organization.

Keywords:

adherens junctions cadherin cytoskeleton membrane organization nanoclusters

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Published on: October 17, 2014

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Classical cadherins mediate cell-cell adhesion, crucial for tissue development and integrity.
Nanoscale organization of cell surface receptors influences cellular functions.
Recent microscopy advances highlight the prevalence of cadherin clustering.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the nanoscale organization of classical cadherins into lateral clusters.
To discuss the molecular mechanisms driving cadherin clustering.
To explore the functional implications of cadherin clustering.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent advances in optical microscopy.
Analysis of molecular mechanisms governing cadherin organization.
Integration of knowledge on plasma membrane nanoscale organization.

Main Results:

Cadherin clustering is a general, yet diverse, feature of cadherin organization.
Mechanisms involve protein-protein interactions, actin cytoskeleton regulation, and lipid environment.
Nanoscale organization impacts cadherin function and cell adhesion.

Conclusions:

Cadherin clustering is a fundamental aspect of cell adhesion.
Understanding nanoscale organization is key to deciphering cadherin function.
Future research should focus on the interplay between cadherins, cytoskeleton, and membrane environment.