The Histology Guide

The Histology Guide

Epithelium: Cell Junctions

There are four main types
of cell-cell junctions:
Three are different types of connecting junctions, that
bind the cells together.

1. occluding junctions (zonula occludens or tight

junctions)
2. adhering junctions (zonula adherens).
3. desmosomes (macula adherens). There are also
'hemidesmosomes
hemidesmosomes' that lie on the basal
membrane, to help stick the cells to the
underlying basal lamina.
4. Gap junction
junctions. These are communicating
junctions. (also known as nexus, septate junction)

These types of cell junctions are found between

epithelial cells, but can also between other types of
cells.

Occluding junctions

The borders of two cells are fused together, often

around the whole perimeter of each cell, forming a
continuous belt like junction known as a tight junction
or zonula occludens (zonula = latin for belt). These
regions of the cells are very tightly connected together,
such that the adjacent plasma membranes are sealed
together. Proteins in the membrane of adjacent cells
called occludin interact with each other to produce this
tight seal. In the cytoplasm of the cell, occludin
interacts with the actin cytoskeleton via another
proteins called ZO-1. Many pathogens act on the
proteins that form this tight junction, making it
permeable.

This type of junction greatly restricts the passage of

water, electrolytes and other small molecules across
the epithelium. Transmembrane proteins from each cell
membrane interlock across the intercellular space, all
around the cell, in this belt (black lines in the diagram).

The permeability of tight junctions varies from site to

site, and are often can be selectively leaky. For example,
these junctions are important in the gut, in acting as a
selective diffusion barrier, preventing diffusion of water
soluble molecules. They also act to restrict the
localisation of membrane bound proteins. (For more
information, see the section on the gut).

Adhering
Junctions
Epithelial cells
are held together
by strong
anchoring
(zonula
adherens)
junctions.

The adherens
junction lies
below the tight
junction (occluding junction). In the gap (about 15-
20nm) between the two cells, there is a protein called
cadherin - a cell membrane glycoprotein. (The type of
cadherin found here is E-cadherin). The cadherins from
adjacent cells interact to 'zipper' up the two cells
together.

Inside the cell, actin filaments (microfilaments, shown

here in red) join up the the adhesion junctions. These
filaments tend to be arranged circumferentially around
the cell, as a 'marginal' band.

This marginal band can contract, and deform the shape

of cells held together in this way - this is thought to be
key in the morphogenesis of epithelial cells, in forming
ducts for example.

Desmosomes and
Hemidesmosomes
Desmosomes connect
two cells together. A
desmosome is also
known as a spot
desmosome or macula
adherens (macula = latin
for spot), because it is
circular or spot like in
outline, and not belt- or
band shaped like
adherens junctions.

from Molecular Biology of Desmosomes are

the Cell particularly common in

epithelia that need to
withstand abrasion (see
skin). Desmosomes are also found in cardiac cells, but
the intermediate filament in this case is desmin, not
keratin (which is found in epithelial cells).

The picture shows an EM of a desmosome formed

between two cells. Notice the phase dense material
between the two cell membranes, which is mad up of
transmembrane linker glycoproteins (e.g. demosgleins
and desmocollins - which are cadherin proteins). Also
notice the intermediate filaments running from the
desmosome into the cytoplasm.

Other
proteins
run across
the

membrane into the intracellular space, to connect the

two cells together. These 'transmembrane linker'
proteins are called cadherins (the type of cadherins
found here are called desmoglein and desmocollin).

The diagram shows a desmosome

desmosome. It is made up of a
dense cytoplasmic plaque, to which the intermediate
filaments attach.

Hemidesmosomes
These look similar to desmosomes, but are different
functionally, and in their content. They connect the
basal surface of epithelial cells via intermediate
filaments to the underlying basal lamina. The
transmembrane proteins of hemidesmosomes are not
cadherins, but another type of protein called integrin.

Gap Junctions

A group of protein molecules called connexins form a

structure called a connexon (each particle in B above is
a connexon). When connexons (blue in the diagram to
the right) from two adjacent cells (red and yellow in the
diagram) align, they form a continuous channel
between them.

This channel is big enough to allow small molecules

such as inorganic ions, and other small water soluble
molecules (smaller than 1000kDa) to pass between the
cells. However the channel is too small for proteins,
nucleic acids or sugars to pass through.

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stology Guide © Faculty of Biological Sciences, University