Cells junctions

Its membrane-associated structures provide adhesion and communication

between cells. Some are present in other tissues but all are particularly
numerous and prominent in epithelia. Epithelial cells adhere strongly to
neighboring cells and basal laminae, particularly in epithelia subject to
friction or other mechanical forces. Intercellular contacts can be ring-
shaped (zonulae) or spot like (maculae)

types of cell junctions are

occluding
anchoring
communicating

zonula occludens (tight junction)

- Present in gastrointestinal truct

- Prevent lakage of contain from lumen to subepethailal space and
vice versa
- Prevents free mobility of transmembrane proteins in the cell
membrane
- consists of transmembrane proteins, occludin and claudin,
which join the two cell membranes together

Zonulae adherens

- cell-to-cell anchoring contacts

- comprised of multiple, anchoring transmembrane proteins known
as cadherins
- forming a protein bridge between the cell
- On the inside of the cell membrane, cadherins attach to linker
proteins which, in turn, connect to microfilaments
- The microfilaments connect with the terminal web that represents a
collection of actin, myosin, and keratin filaments
- This connection effectively anchors cells to each other
- these structures form the terminal bar, which appears as a dense
condensation of the cell membrane when viewed with EM
Maculae adherens, or desmosomes

- disk like, cell-to-cell contacts that are particularly well developed

in the epidermis of the skin
- similar zonulae adherens junctions in structure
- dark-staining plaques located on the inside of the two adjacent cell
membranes in EM

Hemidesmosomes

- connect cells to the basement membrane

- specific cell-surface receptor proteins called integrins
- connect intracellular via adaptor proteins to intermediate filaments
- Ultra structurally, hemi desmosomes look like half desmosomes
with a plaque on the inside of the cell membrane from which
intermediate filaments radiate into the cytoplasm
- Present in epidermis of the skin

Focal adhesions

- connect cells to the underlying matrix via integrins

- similar to hemidismosome in structure
- Focal adhesions are not only involved in anchoring of cells,
but also have been implicated in cell motility and signaling.

Gap junctions
- communicating junctions that allow the passage of electrical
signals, ions, and small water soluble molecules (up to 1000
daltons) between cells
- neighboring cell membranes are separated by a 2- to 4-nm gap
- Protein complexes known as connexons span the gap and form
narrow channels through which small molecules may pass from
one cell to another
- communicating junctions are important for conducting electrical
signals through intercalated disks of cardiac muscle cells