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Related Concept Videos

Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

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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
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Tight Junctions01:29

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...
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Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

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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...
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Anchoring Junctions01:03

Anchoring Junctions

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

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

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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...
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Cell Adhesion in Plants01:14

Cell Adhesion in Plants

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Plants have rigid cell walls that are made up of cell wall polysaccharides that mediate cell-cell adhesion. The primary cell walls of plants consist of two independent and interacting polysaccharide networks: a pectin matrix that embeds the second network comprising cellulose and hemicelluloses.
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose,...
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Analysis of the Epithelial Damage Produced by Entamoeba histolytica Infection
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Adherens Junctions Modulate Diffusion between Epithelial Cells in Trichoplax adhaerens.

Carolyn L Smith, Thomas S Reese

    The Biological Bulletin
    |January 4, 2017
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    Summary

    Trichoplax adhaerens, a simple marine animal, uses adherens junctions to control what enters its body. These junctions limit the passage of substances, aiding in feeding and maintaining cellular integrity.

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    Area of Science:

    • Marine biology
    • Invertebrate zoology
    • Cell biology

    Background:

    • Trichoplax adhaerens is the sole species in the ancient Placozoa phylum, exhibiting a simple body plan with six cell types.
    • Its epithelia are composed of ciliated cells for locomotion and secretory cells for feeding.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of cell junctions in regulating epithelial permeability in Trichoplax adhaerens.
    • To understand how adherens junctions contribute to the feeding mechanism and structural integrity of Placozoa.

    Main Methods:

    • Microscopy to observe epithelial structure and cell junctions.
    • Dextran permeability assays with varying molecular weights and calcium concentrations.
    • Analysis of cellular components like actin networks.

    Main Results:

    • Adherens junctions are the primary cell-cell junctions, stabilized by actin networks.
    • Epithelial permeability is regulated by adherens junctions, which restrict the entry of larger molecules.
    • Reduced calcium levels cause dissociation of adherens junctions, increasing permeability.

    Conclusions:

    • Adherens junctions in Trichoplax adhaerens act as a selective barrier, controlling paracellular transport.
    • This junctional regulation is crucial for efficient feeding by confining lysed algae and maintaining tissue stability.