Cell-Cell Junctions

Bhavtosh A. Kikani, PhD, ICAR-NET

What are intercellular junctions?

Points of contact between the plasma membranes of adjacent cells.

Consist of multi-protein complexes that provide contact between

neighboring cells or between a cell and the extracellular matrix.
Composition

Typically consist of three components:

a transmembrane adhesive protein,

a cytoplasmic adapter protein &

a cytoskeletal filament
Functions

Cell junctions may

Form fluid-tight seal between cells.

Anchor cells together or to extracellular materials.

Allow ions/molecules to pass from cell to another cell within a tissue.

Classes
1. Occluding Junctions (Zonula occludens)
2. Adhesive/Anchoring Junctions
a) Cell-to-cell
i) Zonula adherens
ii) Macula adherens (Desmosome)
b) Cell-matrix
i) Focal adhesions (Point Junctions)
ii) Hemidesmosome
3. Communicating (Gap) Junctions
Tight/ Occluding Junctions
closely associated areas of two cells whose membranes join together forming a
virtually impermeable barrier to fluid.
control the passage of material through the intercellular spaces (e.g., from the
interstitium to the lumen of a gland).

Functions of tight junctions:

Strength and stability
Selective permeability for ions (leaky tight junctions)
Fencing function
Maintenance of cell polarity
Blood-brain barrier
Occluding/Tight junctions

Most abundantly seen in apices

of epithelial cells

Found only in vertebrates

Can modify to form leaky

junctions
Adherence/ Anchoring Junctions
provide strength to the cell by mechanical attachment.

Two types on the lateral cell surface:

zonula adherens ,which interacts with the network of actin filaments
inside the cell; and
macula adherens or desmosome, which interacts with intermediate
filaments.
Structure of Desmosome
Intracellular attachment plaque
anchored with intermediate
filaments are seen.

The extracellular
portions of desmocollins and
desmogleins from opposing cells
interact with each other in the
localized area of the
desmosome, forming the
cadherin zipper.
Anchoring junctions (Cell to ECM)

Focal adhesions - anchor actin filaments of the cytoskeleton into the

basement membrane (e.g. between a leucocyte and a vessel wall) &

Hemidesmosomes (hemi, Gk.- half) anchor intermediate filaments of

the cytoskeleton into the basement membrane.
Hemidesmosomes
Hemidesmosomes look like half-
desmosomes that attach cells to the
underlying basement membrane.

Rather than using desmogleins,

hemidesmosomes use desmopenetrin
cell adhesion proteins, which are
members of Integrin family.
Gap Junctions
clusters of intercellular channels that allow direct diffusion of ions and small
molecules between adjacent cells.
intercellular space narrows from 25 nm to 3 nm.
first discovered in myocardium and nerves between adjacent cells because of
their properties of electrical transmission

Example: Plasmodesmata in plants

Functions of gap junction

channel passage the substance have molecular weight less than 1000.
Exchange of chemical messenger between cells
Rapid propagation of action potential from one cell to another cell.
Structure of a gap junction
gap junction between adjoining
cells showing the structural
components of the membrane that
form channels(connexons)

formed by a circular array of six

subunits, dumbbell-shaped
transmembrane proteins
(connexins)

connexons, have a central opening

of about 2nm in diameter.
SUMMARY
THANK YOU VERY MUCH