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-Matrix Interactions01:24

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

8.2K
The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...
8.2K
Cell Adhesion in Plants01:14

Cell Adhesion in Plants

3.0K
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,...
3.0K
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

8.2K
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily  involved...
8.2K
Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

3.4K
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...
3.4K
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
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

5.4K
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
5.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Charge-Transfer-Mediated Boron Magneto-Ionics: Towards Voltage-Driven Multi-Ion Transport.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Performance of the prompt gamma-ray timing system prototype under clinical-like conditions.

Physics in medicine and biology·2026
Same author

Body composition's effect on the bone-vascular axis of osteoporosis discovered in AI-based CT analysis of COPD patients.

European radiology·2026
Same author

De novo promoters emerge more readily from random DNA than from genomic DNA.

Science advances·2026
Same author

A longitudinal whole-body CT dataset with manually annotated tumor lesions.

Scientific data·2026
Same author

Exploring the bone-vascular axis: AI-augmented chest CT analysis in COPD highlights association between vertebral bone density and arterial calcifications.

Respiratory medicine·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 5, 2025

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

10.7K

Cryptic surface-associated multicellularity emerges through cell adhesion and its regulation.

Jordi van Gestel1,2, Andreas Wagner1,2,3

  • 1Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

Plos Biology
|May 13, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Multicellularity rapidly evolves from simple cell adhesion and regulated adhesion. This process leads to cryptic multicellular life before clear physical forms emerge, offering insights into early life evolution.

More Related Videos

Generation of Multicue Cellular Microenvironments by UV-Photopatterning of Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Substrates
09:30

Generation of Multicue Cellular Microenvironments by UV-Photopatterning of Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Substrates

Published on: June 2, 2022

2.7K
Quantification of Cell-Substrate Adhesion Area and Cell Shape Distributions in MCF7 Cell Monolayers
06:46

Quantification of Cell-Substrate Adhesion Area and Cell Shape Distributions in MCF7 Cell Monolayers

Published on: June 24, 2020

8.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 5, 2025

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

10.7K
Generation of Multicue Cellular Microenvironments by UV-Photopatterning of Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Substrates
09:30

Generation of Multicue Cellular Microenvironments by UV-Photopatterning of Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Substrates

Published on: June 2, 2022

2.7K
Quantification of Cell-Substrate Adhesion Area and Cell Shape Distributions in MCF7 Cell Monolayers
06:46

Quantification of Cell-Substrate Adhesion Area and Cell Shape Distributions in MCF7 Cell Monolayers

Published on: June 24, 2020

8.8K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Origin of life
  • Theoretical biology

Background:

  • Multicellularity has evolved repeatedly, leading to diverse sessile organisms like plants and fungi.
  • Sessile organisms, which adhere to surfaces, are widespread, yet their evolutionary origins remain unclear.
  • Understanding the origin of surface-associated multicellularity is crucial for evolutionary studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary origin of surface-associated multicellularity.
  • To introduce a novel theoretical framework for studying multicellularity's emergence.
  • To identify key cellular properties driving the evolution of multicellularity.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a novel theoretical approach using spatial lineage tracking of cells.
  • Modeled the evolution of cell adhesion and its regulatory control.
  • Simulated the spontaneous formation and selection of primitive cell collectives.

Main Results:

  • Multicellularity can rapidly evolve from cell adhesion and regulated adhesion.
  • Adhesive cells form collectives that grow and compete for space on surfaces.
  • Kin recognition drives the evolution of cell adhesion polarity and division of labor.
  • Nascent multicellular collectives are cryptic, lacking clear boundaries and morphological definition.

Conclusions:

  • Cryptic multicellularity can readily evolve from basic cellular properties.
  • The origin of multicellularity may precede the development of evident morphological structures.
  • This theoretical model provides a framework for understanding early multicellular evolution.