Adhesions

Question 1

how do hemidesmosomes link to IFs?

Answer 1

intracellular domains of integrins link to plectins which links to IFs.

Question 2

what components make up tight junctions?

Answer 2

claudins, occludins / JAM bind intracellular adaptor proteins which actin binding domains.
lack of claudin –> water loss through skin /. death in mice

Question 3

dscribe desmosome binding.

Answer 3

cadherins (desmoglein / desmocolin) bind
plakophilin / plakoglobin which bind
desmoplakin which binds
IFs

Question 4

what makes up an adherens junction?

Answer 4

cadherins link actin via 
anchor proteins (catenins, vinculin, actinin)

Question 5

what makes up focal adhesions?

Answer 5

integrins (heterodimers of alpha and beta subunits) bind to actin via adaptor proteins

Question 6

what are connexons?

Answer 6

hexamers of connexins (TM proteins connect to form channels that open or close).

Question 7

What diseases are associated with adhesions?

Answer 7

Pemphogus Vulgaris
auto-antibodies against desmoglein I/III –> keratinocyte separation from each other & BL

Epidermolysis Bullosa
Genetic COLVII mutations
Reduced HD stability, reduced adhesion to ECM –> blistering.