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

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

31.6K
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...
31.6K
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

31.4K
31.4K
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

3.8K
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...
3.8K
Anchoring Junctions01:03

Anchoring Junctions

5.5K
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:...
5.5K
Tight Junctions01:29

Tight Junctions

8.6K
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...
8.6K
Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

48.4K
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
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
48.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Cellular Processes and Forces Shaping the Embryo: Lessons from <i>C. elegans</i>.

Cells·2026
Same author

TEP-1, a glial thioester protein is required for cilia organization and intraflagellar transport in ensheathed sensory neurons in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>.

Molecular biology of the cell·2026
Same author

Keeping a stiff upper lip: p120ctn and tissue fusion.

The Journal of cell biology·2025
Same author

TEP-1, a glial thioester protein is required for cilia organization and intraflagellar transport in ensheathed sensory neurons.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Single-molecule force spectroscopy reveals intra- and intermolecular interactions of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> HMP-1 during mechanotransduction.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024
Same author

TIAM-1 regulates polarized protrusions during dorsal intercalation in the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo through both its GEF and N-terminal domains.

Journal of cell science·2024
Same journal

A pan-vertebrate signaling motif controls the molecular function of intracellular AQP12.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same journal

Synergistic assembly, disassembly, and protection of complex forms of bundled F-actin.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same journal

Recruitment and release of XPG during NER is controlled by pre- and post-incision factors and EXO1.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same journal

Meiotic CENP-C supports centromere assembly and kinetochore recruitment in spermatogenesis.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same journal

Phosphatidylserine and RhoB connect PI4P and PA metabolism to maintain plasma membrane identity.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same journal

PIKfyve influences inter-organelle contacts with lysosomes to modulate the endoplasmic reticulum.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication: A Functional Biomarker to Assess Adverse Effects of Toxicants and Toxins, and Health Benefits of Natural Products
05:27

Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication: A Functional Biomarker to Assess Adverse Effects of Toxicants and Toxins, and Health Benefits of Natural Products

Published on: December 25, 2016

15.6K

Regulating cell-cell junctions from A to Z.

Jeff Hardin1

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 jdhardin@wisc.edu.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|April 27, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Afadin and ZO-1 proteins are crucial for maintaining the structure of epithelial cell layers. They regulate cell tension and adhesion, ensuring tissue integrity during contractility changes.

More Related Videos

Silicon Microchips for Manipulating Cell-cell Interaction
23:21

Silicon Microchips for Manipulating Cell-cell Interaction

Published on: August 30, 2007

11.2K
Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System
04:47

Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System

Published on: May 22, 2020

4.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication: A Functional Biomarker to Assess Adverse Effects of Toxicants and Toxins, and Health Benefits of Natural Products
05:27

Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication: A Functional Biomarker to Assess Adverse Effects of Toxicants and Toxins, and Health Benefits of Natural Products

Published on: December 25, 2016

15.6K
Silicon Microchips for Manipulating Cell-cell Interaction
23:21

Silicon Microchips for Manipulating Cell-cell Interaction

Published on: August 30, 2007

11.2K
Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System
04:47

Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System

Published on: May 22, 2020

4.0K

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Tissue dynamics
  • Epithelial tissue organization

Background:

  • Epithelial sheets commonly exhibit a cobblestone morphology.
  • The underlying mechanisms governing the dynamic arrangement of epithelial cells remain largely unknown.
  • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for tissue development and repair.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms regulating epithelial sheet architecture.
  • To identify key proteins involved in maintaining cell-cell junctions under varying contractility.
  • To elucidate the role of afadin and ZO-1 in epithelial tissue organization.

Main Methods:

  • Cell culture models of epithelial sheets.
  • Immunofluorescence microscopy to visualize protein localization.
  • Tension measurements and contractility assays.
  • Genetic manipulation to assess protein function.

Main Results:

  • Afadin and ZO-1 were identified as key regulators of tension within epithelial sheets.
  • These proteins play a critical role in maintaining the architecture of the zonula adherens.
  • The study demonstrated that afadin and ZO-1 function is essential for adapting to changes in cellular contractility.

Conclusions:

  • Afadin and ZO-1 are vital for preserving epithelial tissue integrity.
  • These proteins modulate cell tension and zonula adherens structure in response to contractility.
  • The findings provide new insights into the dynamic regulation of epithelial cell arrangements.