Cell Junction (Intercellular bridges):

• It is found within the tissues of some multicellular organisms such

as animals
• It consists of multiprotein complex that provides contact between
neighbouring cells or between a cell and the Extra cellular matrix.
• Cell to cell junctions
• Cell to ECM junction
Various type of cell junctions in animal tissues
Cell to cell junctions:
• Adherens junction
• Desmosomes
Both link cells together by plasma membrane bound protein belong to
cadherin family
Cell to cell adhesion by:
• Tight junctions (Occluding junction): Mediated by transmembrane
junctional proteins
• Gap junctions (Communicating junction): Mediated by membrane
protein i.e. connexons
Cell to ECM junctions:
• Focal junctions
• Hemidesmosomes
Both link cell to its ECM by plasma membrane associated protein i. e.
integrin
Extra cellular matrix:
• Structure which is external to plasma membrane
• ECM consist of macromolecules that are secreted by cells itself
Chemical composition:
• Structural proteins (collagen) and elastin which gives ECM its
strength and flexibility
• Protein polysaccharide complex: proteoglycan it provides matrix in
which structural molecules are embedded.
• Adhesive glycoprotein: Fibronectins and laminins which attach cells
to matrix
• In algae, plants, bacteria, fungi the ECM is called cell wall.
Focal adhesion:
Focal adhesion:
• Integrin protein participate.
• It is heterodimeric protein (alpha and beta chain) embedded to
plasma membrane by single transmembrane helices
• Extracellular portion of the integrin bind to adhesive glycoprotein
of ECM (fibronectin + lamins) which further bind to structural
protein (collagen) of ECM
• Intracellular portion of the integrin bind to linker protein (vinculin
+ talin) which further bind to actin filament of cytoplasm
Hemidesmosomes
Hemidesmosomes:
• Integrin protein participate.
• Extracellular portion of the integrin bind to adhesive glycoprotein
of ECM (fibronectin + lamins) which further bind to structural
protein (collagen) of ECM and link cell to its ECM
• Intracellular portion of the integrin bind to adhesive plaque
(plectin protein) found on inner side of plasma membrane.
• The adhesive plaque further bind to intermediate filament of the
cytoplasm
Cell to cell junction
1. Adherens junction:
• Heart muscles and thin layer of tissues that line body cavities
• It link cells together into tissue thereby enabling the cells to
function as a unit
• It interconnect the cytoskeleton of adjacent cells
• The resulting interconnected cytoskeleton network help to
maintain tissue integrity and to withstand mechanical stress
Adherens junction
Adherens junction:
• 2 proteins are involved:
• One is the intracellular attachment protein (Beta-catenin): It bind to
cytosolic tail of cadherin and bind to actin filament inside cell.
• Another is the PM bound cadherin protein
2. Desmosomes:
Desmosomes:
• Strong adhesion between cells in a body tissue
• Found in cardiac muscles, epithelium of skin, cervix
• Cells adhesion proteins are desmoglein and desmocollin which
are cadherin family protein and plasma membrane bound
• Dense plaque formed on inner side of the plasma membrane and
made of plakoglobin and desmoplakins
• Cells are separated by intercellular space of 25-35nm
• It gives tissue structural integrity, enable cells to function as a unit
and to resist stress
3. Tight junction
Tight junction:
• It leaves no space between the plasma membrane of the adjoining
cells. It seals prevent flow of fluid between the cells
• Intestinal epithelium cells, ducts and cavities of glands (liver,
pancreas, urinary bladder) where it ensure that liquid from the
cavities does not seep out between the cells
• Tight junction forms a continuous belt around the lining of organ
or body cavity such that the space between cells are tightly sealed
so only way for molecules to cross the cell layer is by passing
through the cell themselves (PM bound transporter proteins)
4. Gap junction
Gap junction:
• It is a region at which plasma membrane of the 2 cells are aligned
and brought into intimate contact with a gap of 3 nm in between
• Hollow cylindrical protein connexon (hexamer) composed of 6
copies of connexin monomer
• 6 copies of connexin monomer assembled in such a way that they
leave hollow central space
• When connexons in PM of 2 cells aligned then their hollow space
in the 2 membrane meet end to end forming direct cytoplasmic
connections between 2 cells
Gap junction:
• It is found in muscle tissues, nerve tissue where extreme rapid
communication is required
Plasmodesmata: The only junction found in plant cells
Plasmodesmata:
• The plasma membrane of one cell is continuous with another cell
at each plasmodesmata
• Plasmodesmata has a hollow tube desmotubule at the centre
• Desmotubule derived from ER and continuous with ER of both
cells
Plasmodesmata:
• Between desmotubule and plasma membrane that line
plasmodesmata a narrow ring of cytoplasm called annulus
• Plasmodesmata provides continuity of plasma membrane,
ER and cytoplasm between cells
• Movement of ions, small molecules (sugars, amino acids,
RNA, proteins between cells)