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Related Concept Videos

Desmosomes01:05

Desmosomes

5.3K
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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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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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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Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

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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...
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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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Types of Membrane Protrusions01:28

Types of Membrane Protrusions

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The protrusion of the cell surface is an initial step for several cellular processes, including cell migration, phagocytosis, and neurite outgrowth. These membrane protrusions are a result of cytoskeletal rearrangement. The most  widely observed cell protrusions include lamellipodia, pseudopodia, filopodia, microvilli, invadopodia, and podosomes. These protrusions can be of two types — static or dynamic.
The microvilli, an example of stable protrusions, are finger-like projections...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Measuring Interactions of Globular and Filamentous Proteins by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy NMR and Microscale Thermophoresis MST
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Measuring Interactions of Globular and Filamentous Proteins by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy NMR and Microscale Thermophoresis MST

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The desmosome comes into focus.

Navaneetha Krishnan Bharathan1, Alexa L Mattheyses2, Andrew P Kowalczyk1

  • 1Departments of Dermatology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|August 9, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Desmosomes are crucial cell junctions for tissue integrity. Advanced imaging reveals their molecular organization and potential roles in sensing mechanical stress, offering insights into tissue health and disease.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Desmosomes are essential cell-cell adhesive junctions providing mechanical resistance to tissues.
  • Defects in desmosomes are linked to various diseases, including those affecting the heart and epidermis.
  • Understanding desmosome structure and function is critical for tissue integrity and disease research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a historical overview of desmosome discovery and research.
  • To review how cellular imaging technologies have advanced our understanding of desmosome structure and function.
  • To present an updated model of desmosome molecular organization and explore novel functions.

Main Methods:

  • Historical literature review.
  • Analysis of findings from various cellular imaging technologies (light microscopy, electron microscopy, super-resolution microscopy).
  • Integration of recent research on desmosome molecular architecture and organelle associations.

Main Results:

  • The evolution of imaging techniques has progressively unveiled desmosome structure and function.
  • Contemporary imaging has detailed the molecular order, 3D architecture, and interactions with organelles like the endoplasmic reticulum.
  • An updated model of desmosome molecular organization is proposed.

Conclusions:

  • Desmosomes are dynamic structures with complex molecular organization.
  • Desmosomes may function as signaling hubs, sensing mechanical and other cellular stresses.
  • Further research into desmosome signaling could reveal new therapeutic targets for related diseases.