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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

Microvilli

Microvilli

Microvilli are tiny finger-like projections found on the surface of certain cells. Their purpose is to increase the surface area of the cell's apical surface, resulting in more effective absorption or secretion of substances.
These microvilli are predominantly present in cells lining the small intestine, kidney tubules, and certain cells in the respiratory and reproductive systems. By significantly expanding the surface area of the cell membrane, microvilli enhance the cell's capacity...

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:...

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...

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...

Tight Junctions

Tight Junctions

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads

Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads

Published on: March 8, 2017

Adhesion-based capture stabilizes nascent microvilli at epithelial cell junctions.

Caroline S Cencer¹, Jennifer B Silverman¹, Leslie M Meenderink²

¹Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.

Developmental Cell

|October 13, 2023

Summary

Epithelial cells form a brush border using intermicrovillar adhesion complexes (IMACs) to stabilize new microvilli at cell junctions. This marginal capture mechanism is crucial for developing mature apical specializations.

Keywords:

actin brush border cadherins differentiation intermicrovillar adhesion transporting epithelia

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Last Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads

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Published on: March 8, 2017

Visualizing Adhesion Formation in Cells by Means of Advanced Spinning Disk-Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

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Published on: January 21, 2019

SNARE-mediated Fusion of Single Proteoliposomes with Tethered Supported Bilayers in a Microfluidic Flow Cell Monitored by Polarized TIRF Microscopy

SNARE-mediated Fusion of Single Proteoliposomes with Tethered Supported Bilayers in a Microfluidic Flow Cell Monitored by Polarized TIRF Microscopy

Published on: August 24, 2016

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Epithelial Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Epithelial cells develop apical brush borders with microvilli to enhance solute transport.
Intermicrovillar adhesion complexes (IMACs) link microvilli but their role in initial microvilli formation is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of IMACs in the initial assembly of microvilli during epithelial differentiation.

Main Methods:

Live imaging of differentiating epithelial cells (mouse, human, porcine).
Analysis of protocadherin-containing IMACs at cell junctions.
Investigating the role of junctional tension in IMAC stability.

Main Results:

Nascent microvilli initially accumulate at cell margins, spanning junctions.
Transjunctional IMACs, stabilized by junctional tension, link neighboring cell protrusions.
Marginal microvilli accumulation precedes and drives medial microvilli formation.

Conclusions:

A marginal capture mechanism, dependent on transjunctional IMACs, stabilizes nascent microvilli.
This process is essential for the assembly of apical specializations in diverse epithelial systems.