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

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

2.9K
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...
2.9K
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

2.8K
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...
2.8K
Cell Migration01:19

Cell Migration

5.2K
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
5.2K
Anchoring Junctions01:03

Anchoring Junctions

4.0K
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:...
4.0K
Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

3.2K
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...
3.2K
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

5.1K
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
5.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Impact of BECLIN1 haploinsufficiency on goblet cell function and susceptibility to colitis.

Cell death & disease·2026
Same author

Bridging scales for cellular communities.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same author

Multiscale mechanisms driving tissue rupture by invading cells.

Developmental cell·2026
Same author

Circumferential actomyosin bundles anchored by CCM1 drive endothelial cell contraction and vessel constriction.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Fast volumetric fluorescence lifetime imaging of multicellular systems using single-objective light-sheet microscopy.

Communications biology·2025
Same author

In-depth single molecule localization microscopy using adaptive optics and single objective light-sheet microscopy.

Nature communications·2025
Same journal

Mechanosensing in immune cells: Implications for migration and beyond.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Emerging role of organelles in cell migration.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Nuclear adaptation in cell migration.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Patterns in motion: Choreographing dynamic cell behaviours during tissue repair.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Quo vadis reconstituted cell surfaces? Purpose and future perspectives for minimal systems of the cell plasma membrane.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Nuclear determinants of mRNA and protein isoforms.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 20, 2025

A Simplified System for Evaluating Cell Mechanosensing and Durotaxis In Vitro
09:50

A Simplified System for Evaluating Cell Mechanosensing and Durotaxis In Vitro

Published on: August 27, 2015

8.3K

New directions in epithelial mechanoadaptation.

Julia Eckert1, Virgile Viasnoff2, Alpha S Yap1

  • 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|May 25, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cells actively respond to mechanical forces, interpreting them as biological signals. This study explores how cell junctions in tissues manage these forces to maintain integrity and facilitate adaptation.

More Related Videos

Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads
07:55

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

Published on: March 8, 2017

8.6K
Engineering Three-dimensional Epithelial Tissues Embedded within Extracellular Matrix
08:49

Engineering Three-dimensional Epithelial Tissues Embedded within Extracellular Matrix

Published on: July 10, 2016

7.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 20, 2025

A Simplified System for Evaluating Cell Mechanosensing and Durotaxis In Vitro
09:50

A Simplified System for Evaluating Cell Mechanosensing and Durotaxis In Vitro

Published on: August 27, 2015

8.3K
Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads
07:55

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

Published on: March 8, 2017

8.6K
Engineering Three-dimensional Epithelial Tissues Embedded within Extracellular Matrix
08:49

Engineering Three-dimensional Epithelial Tissues Embedded within Extracellular Matrix

Published on: July 10, 2016

7.7K

Area of Science:

  • Mechanobiology
  • Cellular Biophysics
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Cells function as active mechanical entities, sensing and responding to physical forces.
  • Mechanobiology at the multicellular level, particularly in tissues, introduces significant complexity.
  • Cell-cell adhesion junctions are crucial for force transmission, resistance, and detection within tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine how epithelial tissues adapt to mechanical stresses.
  • To explore recent advancements in understanding the origins of cellular forces.
  • To investigate novel mechanisms of mechanotransduction involving adherens junctions and desmosomes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on cellular mechanobiology.
  • Analysis of force generation and transmission at the cellular and tissue levels.
  • Focus on the role of specific cell-adhesion molecules (adherens junctions, desmosomes) in mechanotransduction.

Main Results:

  • Epithelial cells actively generate and respond to mechanical forces.
  • Cell-cell junctions are key mediators in the detection and transduction of mechanical signals.
  • Adherens junctions and desmosomes exhibit sophisticated mechanisms for adapting to and transmitting mechanical stress.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular mechanical forces are integral to tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis.
  • Understanding mechanotransduction via cell junctions is vital for tissue integrity.
  • Further research into these mechanisms can inform tissue engineering and disease understanding.