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Related Concept Videos

Desmosomes01:05

Desmosomes

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The term desmosome derives from the Greek words "desmo" and "soma" meaning "adhesion bodies." This structure was first observed during the late 1800s and described as small, dense nodules in the epidermis. Desmosomes are button-like structures that help form an interlinked network of intermediate filaments across the cells. These junctions are  essential to hold cells together under mechanical stress and to maintain tissue integrity. Desmosomes are multi-protein...
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Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
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The membrane domains concentrate specific lipids and proteins at one place within the membrane, which helps in cell signaling, adhesion, and other critical cellular processes. These domains can differ in size, composition, function, and lifespan.
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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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Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

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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.
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Scientists identified the plasma membrane in the 1890s and its principal chemical components (lipids and proteins) by 1915. The model for plasma membrane structure, proposed in 1935 by Hugh Davson and James Danielli, was the first model to be widely accepted in the scientific community. The model was based on the plasma membrane's "railroad track" appearance in early electron micrographs. Davson and Danielli theorized that the plasma membrane's structure resembled a sandwich...
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The desmosome as a dynamic membrane domain.

Stephanie E Zimmer1, Andrew P Kowalczyk1

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Cell junctions like adherens junctions and desmosomes coordinate tissue development and structure. New research reveals their connection to the endoplasmic reticulum for stress sensing and calcium balance, offering insights into disease mechanisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cell junctions are crucial for tissue organization, cell adhesion, and communication.
  • Adherens junctions and desmosomes are key adhesive junctions involved in maintaining tissue integrity.
  • Understanding the spatial and functional integration of cell junctions is vital for comprehending tissue homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the co-assembly and segregation mechanisms of adherens junctions and desmosomes.
  • To explore the integration of these junctions with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
  • To discuss the role of ER-junction interactions in stress sensing, calcium homeostasis, and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on cell junctions and ER interactions.
  • Analysis of mechanisms for junctional co-assembly, segregation, and domain formation.
  • Synthesis of evidence linking ER function to mechanical stress response and cell adhesion.

Main Results:

  • Adherens junctions and desmosomes exhibit complex co-assembly and segregation into distinct plasma membrane domains.
  • Emerging evidence demonstrates functional and spatial integration between these junctions and the endoplasmic reticulum.
  • This integration is critical for cellular stress sensing and calcium homeostasis.

Conclusions:

  • The endoplasmic reticulum plays a significant role in the mechanical stress response through its interaction with cell junctions.
  • Disruption of the connections between cell junctions and the ER can lead to various diseases.
  • Further research into these integrated pathways is essential for understanding and treating related pathologies.