General Biology 1:

Lateral Cell
Modification
by the 7th Group
 Cell Modification
Cell specialization (or modification or
differentiation) is actually aprocess that occurs after
cell division where the newly formed cells
arestructurally modified so that they can perform
their function efficiently and effectively.
Cell modification is features or structure of
the cell that makes it different from another
type of cell and at the same time enables it
to carry out unusual functions. Cell
modification are specialized or
modifications re-acquired by the cell after
cell division
01 Gap Junctions
Gap junctions are known as
communicating junctions. These are
closable channels that connect the
cytoplasm of neighboring cells. It is
composed of two hexagonal structures
called connexons.
 02 Tight Junction
are intercellular adhesion complexes in
epithelia and endothelia that control
paracellular permeability. This
paracellular diffusion barrier is
semipermeable: it is size- and charge-
selective.
Paracellular ion permeability at
tight junctions is largely
determined by their claudin
composition. Claudins are a
family of transmembrane
proteins that are thought to
form gated ion-selective
paracellular pores through the
paracellular diffusion barrier.
Tight junctions form the border
between the apical and
basolateral cell surface domains
in polarized epithelia, and
support the maintenance of cell
polarity by restricting
intermixing of apical and
basolateral transmembrane
components.
 Adhering Junctions 03
Adhering junctions are cell-cell
adhesion structures that play a crucial
role in maintaining tissue integrity
and allowing cells to adhere to one
another.
Group 7 Members – STEM 11 B
● Althea Kaithlyn U. Cabilte
● Janice Alleiah R. Pañares
● Princess Nicole S. Ocampo
● Ian Jerald B. Calunsag
● John Michael Bascon