CELL JUNCTIONS

Presented by,
Mrs. Akula sowjanya,
Assistant professor,
M. Pharmacy (Ph.D),
Department of pharmacology,
MLRIP,
Hyderabad
Department of pharmacology, MLRIP
 Cell junctions
• Cell junction is the connection between neighboring cells.

• The contact between the cell and extracellular matrix is called

membrane junction.

• 3 types- occluding junctions(tight junction), communicating

junctions, anchoring junctions.

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP

C Occluding junctions: Cell junctions which prevent intercellular exchange of
substances are called occluding junctions. i.e these junction prevent the movement
of ions and molecules from one cell to another cell----Tight junction.

1. Tight junction is made up a ridge which has two halves.

2. One half of the ridge is from one cell and another half is from the other cell.

3. Both halves of the ridge fuse with each other very tightly and occupy the
space between the two cells.

4. Present in apical margins of epithelial and endothelial cells in intestinal

mucosa, walls of renal tubules, capillary wall.
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C

Department of pharmacy practice, MLRIP

 Tight junction-Functions

 Provide the strength and stability to the tissues

 Tight junction act as gate—regulate the interchange of ions, water,
varieties of macromolecules between cells.
 Tight junction prevents the lateral movements of proteins and lipids in cell
membrane.
 Tight junction in the brain capillaries forms the BBB, which prevents the
entrance of many substances from capillary blood in to brain tissues. only
lipid soluble substances crosses the BBB

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP

 Communicating junctions

• Cell junctions which permits the intracellular exchange of substances

are called communicating junctions
• These junctions permit the movement of ions and molecules from
one cell to another cell.
a. Gap junction
b. Chemical synapse

Department of pharmacy practice, MLRIP

 Gap junction
• Present in heart, epithelial cells of intestinal mucosa
• Membrane of two cells lie very close to each other.
• Intercellular space-2.5-3.0nm
• The cytoplasm of two cells are connected by the gap channels formed by the
membranes of both cells
• So, movement of molecules from one cell to another cell directly through
these channels without contact with ECF
• Each channel consists of two half's, each half belongs to one of the two
adjacent cells
• Each half of the channel surrounded by 6 subunits of proteins, which are
called connexions or connexons
Department of pharmacology, MLRIP
 Gap junction

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP

 Gap junction-Functions

• Channel permits the passage of glucose, AA, ions, other substances,

mol wt less than 1000 daltons

• Helps in exchange of chemical messenger between cells

• Helps in rapid propagation of A.P from one cell to another cell.

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP

b. Chemical synapse: is the junction between nerve fiber and muscle
fiber or between two nerve fibers through which signals are transmitted
by the release of chemical transmitters.

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP

 Anchoring Junction
Anchoring junctions are the junctions that provide strength to the cells by acting like
mechanical attachment, i.e these junctions provide firm structural attachment
between two cells or b/w cells and extracellular matrix
AJ responsible for the structural integrity of the tissues
Present in the tissues like heart muscles, epidermis of skin
AJ are classified into 2 types
1. Actin filament Attachment: a. Adherence junction, b. Focal junction
2. Intermediate filament Attachment: a. Desmosome b. Hemidesmosome

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP

• Adherens junction: is the cell to cell junction. Which connects
the actin filaments of one cell to another cell
• In AJ junction, the cell membrane of two cells are held together by
some transmembrane proteins called cadherins
• This junction provide strong mechanical attachment between two
cells
• Present in the intercalated disc between branches of cardiac
muscles
• During contraction and relaxation of cardiac muscles fibers are
held together tightly by means of this junction.

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP
• Focal Adhesion: is the cell to matrix junction, which connects the
actin filaments of the cell to the extracellular matrix

• The transmembrane proteins, which holds the cell membrane and the
matrix are called integrins

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Department of pharmacology, MLRIP
• Intermediate filament attachment:

a. Desmosome (macula adherens): is a cell to cell junction, where

intermediate filaments connects two adjacent cells.

b. Hemidesmosomes: is a cell to matrix junction, which connects the

intermediate filaments of the cell to the exrtracellular matrix

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP

Department of pharmacology, MLRIP
THANK YOU