INTERCELLULAR

JUNCTIONS
• Cell membrane –neighboring cells – connected
with one another –INTERCELLULAR JUNCTIONS/
JUNCTIONAL COMPLEXES

• TWO TYPES
• Junctions that tie cells together
• Junctions that allow transfer of ions and small
molecules
 • Junctions that tie cells together

TIGHT ANCHORING
JUNCTIONS JUNCTIONS

A.Cell to cell anchoring junctions

Desmosome
Zonula adherens
B. Cell to basal lamina anchoring
junctions
Hemidesmosome
Focal adhesion
• Junctions that allow transfer of ions and small molecules

Gap junctions
• TIGHT JUNCTIONS/ ZONA
OCCLUDENS/ OCCLUDING ZONE
• Outer layer of the cell
membrane of – neighboring
cells – fuse with each other
• Obliterating the space between
the cells
• Form a barrier to the movement
of –ions & other solutes from
one cell to another
Functions
• Form Selective permeability barrier –prevent
–transport- of macromolecules from luminal
fluid into interstitial space
• Presence of leaky channels – small size water
soluble particles – permitted
• Permeability varies
Macro molecules - As
• Eg: gut – Na+ -pass freely , urinary bladder –nil
–Vesicles – vesicular
• Permeability of substance – thro TJ – can be
transport
Depends on – osmolality gradient across
epithelium
• This forms ---Paracellular transport of solutes
& solvents
• Brain – tight junction B/W Endothelial cells
of cerebral blood vessels contribute to –
effectiveness of blood brain barrier
• Ciliary bodies – they form
blood aqueous barrier B/W
cells of inner pigmented
epithelium
• ADHERENS JUNCTIONS /ZONULA
ADHERENS
• Cell membranes of the adjacent cells –
separated by 15- 20nm wide space
• Which is at focal places obliterated by
the dense accumulation of the proteins
at the cell surface
• Bundles of intermediate filaments
project from the intercellular junctional
areas and radiate into the cytoplasm
• This holds – adjacent cells at these focal
places
• Desmosome - ADHERENS JUNCTIONS
where thickened focal areas are
formed on both the apposing cell
membranes
• Intercellular space B/W -2 membrane
thickenings also contain –filamentous
cell adhesion materials – CADHERINS
& desmogleins
• Extracellular portions of many
membrane proteins – present in this
space
 Zonula adherens

Located – below tight

junctions

Major site of attachment for

intracellular microfilaments
CADHERINS –present –
intercellular space at this
junction
 Cell to cell basal lamina anchoring
junctions
• Hemidesmosome - ADHERENS JUNCTIONS
– where focal thickening – seen only on
the membrane of one of the two adjacent
cells – also known as – half desmosome.
• Microfilaments – attached to it-
intracellularly
• Contain – Integrins
• ADHERENS JUNCTIONS –seen – cells of
epidermis
•
• Focal adhesions – connect
– cell to basal lamina
• Intracellularly – associated
with – ACTIN filaments
• Assist in cell movement
• Gap junctions-/nexus r the channels – on – lateral
surfaces of the two adjacent cells
• Molecules r exchanged B/W cells
• Made up of special transmembrane proteins-
CONNEXONS
• Connexons- from membrane of 2 adjacent cells lined up
with one another
• Each ½ of channel – surrounded by 6
subunits of proteins – CONNEXINS-
surrounds an aqueous channel [2nm]
• Connexon of adjacent cells – aligned -
aqueous channel – become –
continuous one [substance without
passing ECF]

• Water, ions, AA, sugars, hormones

• Connexon keeps - adjacent cell

membrane at a fixed gap –’’ Gap
junction’’
• Intercellular space –reduced from
usual size 15 – 20nm to 2-3 nm
• Seen – heart & basal part of
epithelial cells of intestinal
mucous membrane
• MUTATION –
• 20 different gene- disease –
specific to tissues
• Charcot-Marie- Tooth disease
• Affects – peripheral neurons –
• Peripheral neuropathy
• FUNCTIONS
• Permit – Intercellular Passage Of – Glucose , AA, Ions & other
substances –molecular weight of 1000

• Permit rapid propagation of electrical potential changes from one

cell to another as seen in cardiac muscle & other smooth muscle
cells (electrical synapse)
• Tissues with gap junctions B/W cells – behave – functional
syncytium
• Visceral smooth muscle

• Help in exchange of chemical messengers B/W the cells

• Hormones
• CELL ADHESION MOLECULES
• CAM’S – prominent parts of – intercellular connections by which
• -cells attached to basal lamina & to each other
• By their property of adhesions B/W cells – provide stability to the
tissue

• Homophilic binding: CAM’S attach with similar molecules –present on

other cells

• Heterophilic binding: attach with different molecules of other cells

• TYPES:
• INTEGRINS: molecules bind to various receptors
• ADHESION molecules of IgG subfamily- IgG immunoglobulins
bind to various antigens
• CADHERINS: Ca2+ dependent molecules – mediate cell to
cell adhesions
• SELECTINS: Lectin like domains , bind – carbohydrates
• FUNCTIONS
• Transmit signals into & out of cells
• Play a role – embryonic development and formation of
nervous system and other tissue
• Hold tissue together in adults
• Play important role – inflammation & wound healing
• Play a role in metastasis of tumors