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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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Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

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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...
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Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

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

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

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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...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2025

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface
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Hexanematic crossover in epithelial monolayers depends on cell adhesion and cell density.

Julia Eckert1,2, Benoît Ladoux3, René-Marc Mège3

  • 1Physics of Life Processes, Leiden Institute of Physics, Universiteit Leiden, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.

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|September 16, 2023
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cellular organization during development relies on multiscale order. Material properties like cell adhesion and density influence tissue structure, impacting cell migration and developmental geometry.

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cellular Mechanics

Background:

  • Tissue geometry changes during development are linked to collective cell migration.
  • Nematic and hexatic orientational order at different scales may underlie these geometric changes.
  • The influence of material properties on this multiscale organization is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how cell density, cell-cell adhesion (E-cadherin), and substrate stiffness affect multiscale orientational order in epithelial cell monolayers.
  • To understand the relationship between material properties and the transition from hexatic to nematic order.
  • To provide a framework for how mechanical properties govern epithelial organization.

Main Methods:

  • Studied Madin-Darby canine kidney cell monolayers with varying densities and molecular repertoires.
  • Analyzed orientational order at small and meso-scales.
  • Quantified the hexanematic crossover scale.

Main Results:

  • Confluent monolayers exhibit prominent hexatic order at small scales, irrespective of E-cadherin, density, or substrate stiffness.
  • Meso-scale tissue organization is significantly affected by cell-cell adhesions, monolayer density, and substrate stiffness.
  • The hexanematic crossover scale is dependent on cell-cell adhesions and correlates with monolayer density.

Conclusions:

  • Epithelial organization and tissue geometry during development are modulated by mechanical properties.
  • Cell-cell adhesions and monolayer density are key factors determining the hexanematic crossover scale.
  • This study offers a robust description of tissue organization relevant to developmental processes.