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Cell Junctions

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20 views

Cell Junctions

Uploaded by

fathimashajahan311
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CELL JUNCTIONS

Cell junction is the connection between the neighbouring cells or the contact between the cell and
extracellular matrix. It is also called membrane junction.
Cell junctions are classified into three types:
1. Occluding junctions
2. Communicating junctions
3. Anchoring junctions.

OCCLUDING JUNCTIONS
➢ Cell junctions which prevent intercellular exchange of substances are called occluding
junctions, i.e. these junctions prevent the movement of ions and molecules from one cell to
another cell.

TIGHT JUNCTION
➢ Tight junction is the intercellular occluding junction that prevents the passage of large
molecules.
➢ Cells of epithelial tissue that lines the stomach, intestines, and urinary bladder have many tight
junctions.
Structure of Tight Junction
➢ Tight junction is made up of a ridge which has two halves. One half of the ridge is from one
cell and another half is from the other cell.
➢ Both halves of the ridge fuse with each other very tightly and occupy the space between the
two cells
➢ Each half of the ridge consists of tight junction strands.

Functions of Tight Junction


• Strength and stability
• Act as blood brain barrier
• Selective permeability

COMMUNICATING JUNCTION
➢ Cell junctions which permit the intercellular exchange of substances are called communicating
junctions, i.e. these junctions permit the movement of ions and molecules from one cell to
another cell.
➢ Gap junction and chemical synapse are the communicating junctions.

GAP JUNCTION
➢ Gap junction is the intercellular junction that allows passage of ions and smaller molecules
between the cells.
➢ It is present in heart, basal part of epithelial cells of intestinal mucosa, etc.
➢ Cytoplasm of the two cells is connected by the channels formed by the membranes of both
cells. Each channel consists of two halves. Each half belongs to one of the two adjacent cells.
➢ Each half of the channel is surrounded by 6 subunits of proteins which are called connexins or
connexons
Functions of gap junctions
➢ It helps in the exchange of chemical messengers between the cells
➢ It helps in rapid propagation of action potential from one cell to another cell

CHEMICAL SYNAPSE
➢ Chemical synapse is the junction between a nerve fiber and a muscle fiber or between two
nerve fibers, through which the signals are transmitted by the release of chemical transmitter

ANCHORING JUNCTIONS
➢ Anchoring junctions are the junctions, which provide strength to the cells by acting like
mechanical attachments
➢ Anchoring junctions are responsible for the structural integrity of the tissues and are present
in the tissues like heart muscle and epidermis of skin
➢ The firm attachment between two cells or between a cell and the extracellular matrix is
provided by either actin filaments or the intermediate filaments.
➢ Anchoring junctions are classified
• Adherens Junctions
• Desmosomes
• Hemidesmosomes

ADHERENS JUNCTIONS
➢ Adherens junction is the cell to cell junction, which connects the actin filaments of one cell to
those of another cell.
➢ In adherens junction, the membranes of the adjacent cells are held together by some
transmembrane proteins called cadherins.
➢ Adherens junction provides strong mechanical attachments of the adjacent cells.
➢ During the contractions and relaxation of heart, the cardiac muscle fibers are held together
tightly by means of this junction.
➢ The adherens junction present in epidermis helps the skin to withstand the mechanical stress.

DESMOSOME
➢ Desmosome is a cell to cell junction, where the intermediate filaments connect two adjacent
cells.
➢ The membranes of two adjacent cells, which oppose each other, are thickened and become
spot like patches.
➢ The intermediate filaments extend from desmosomes on one side of the cell across the cytosol
to desmosomes on the opposite side of the cell.
➢ This structural arrangement contributes to the stability of the cells and tissues.
➢ The transmembrane proteins involved in desmosome are mainly cadherins.
e.g. Cardiac muscle cell in the heart

HEMIDESMOSOME
➢ Hemidesmosome is a cell to matrix junction, which connects the intermediate filaments of the
cell to the extracellular matrix.
➢ This type of cell junction is like half desmosome. So, this is known as hemidesmosome or half
desmosome.
➢ Mostly, the hemidesmosome connects the cells with their basal lamina.
➢ The proteins involved in this are integrins

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