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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 complexes comprising desmosomal...

Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm

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The normal cardiac rhythm is a synchronized electrical activity that facilitates the regular and coordinated contraction of the heart muscle. This process is essential for efficient blood circulation throughout the body. The fundamental elements involved in establishing and maintaining this rhythm include the unique electrical properties of cardiac muscle cells, the sinoatrial (SA) node's pacemaker function, the specialized conducting system, and the ionic mechanisms underlying each phase of...

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Separation of Sister Chromatids

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At the transition from prophase to metaphase, there is a reduction in cohesion along the chromosomal arms, resulting in the resolution of sister chromatids. However, residual cohesin connections remain to hold the sister chromatids together until the transition from metaphase to anaphase. The residual connection prevents any premature separation of sister chromatids, blocking the risks of aneuploidy within the daughter cells.
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Cardiac Action Potential

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Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials

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Isolation and Characterization of Cardiac Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Endomyocardial Bioptic Samples of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Patients

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Published on: February 28, 2018

CCDC120 phase separation contributes to desmosomal integrity and cardiac function.

Hui Meng¹, Wei Zhao², Yangyingzi Xi³

¹Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medicine Institute, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.

Nature Communications

|May 7, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Coiled-coil domain-containing 120 (CCDC120) links desmosomes to heart function through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). This protein

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Cardiology
Biophysics

Background:

Desmosomes are crucial for tissue structural integrity, and their dysfunction causes cardiac and skin disorders.
Desmosome dynamics are key to tissue remodeling, but regulatory mechanisms remain unclear.
Understanding desmosome regulation is vital for addressing related pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of coiled-coil domain-containing 120 (CCDC120) in desmosomal organization and cardiac function.
To explore the involvement of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in desmosome dynamics.
To elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking desmosomal integrity to cardiac health.

Main Methods:

Immunofluorescence microscopy to observe CCDC120 localization at desmosomes.
Biochemical assays to assess CCDC120's liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) properties.
In vivo studies using mouse models with CCDC120 alterations to evaluate cardiac function and intercalated disc structure.

Main Results:

CCDC120 localizes to desmosomes and is essential for their integrity.
CCDC120 exhibits LLPS, co-condensing with plakophilin-2 (PKP2) to form dynamic desmosomal structures.
PKCα phosphorylation modulates CCDC120 condensates, and CCDC120 loss impairs cardiac function.

Conclusions:

CCDC120 plays a critical role in maintaining desmosomal integrity through LLPS.
CCDC120-mediated phase separation is a key regulator of desmosome dynamics.
Dysregulation of CCDC120 phase separation contributes to cardiac dysfunction, linking desmosome biology to heart disease.