Module 8 - Cell Adhesion Flashcards
multicellularity
- multicellular organisms develop from a single fertilized egg
- development requires reiterated mitotic divisions to produce multiple cells, cell differentiation that defines tissue specific patterns of gene expression and signalling between cells
- also requires that cells are able to maintain connections
embryogenesis
- during embryogenesis, can. see. the formation of the inner cell mass which forms the early embryo
- as the # of cells increases, they separate into 1/3 germ layers. endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm
- cells throughout the developing embryo must establish and maintain connections
cell reorganization and adherance in sponges
- ability of cells to reorganize and adhere to one another was demonstrated in 1907 in sponges
- individual cells of these multicellular organisms were separated apart using a fine mesh and then mixed together
- the cells from the same species were able to recognize and associated back. together, while cells from the different species did not associated
embryonic cell association
- is cell-specific
- similar experiment to sponges was performed with frogs in 1950
- took cells from 2 different germ layers during development and separated apart individual cells
- when these 2 different types of cells were mixed together, cells from like tissues recognized one another and associated
- associations even mimicked the organization seen in the original embryo
- cells require a collection of. transmembrane proteins that span the cell membrane called cell adhesion molecules (CAMS) that allow them to recognize and contact each other and stay together during embryogenesis
- after aggregation, cells form specialized cell junctions that stabilize cell-cell interactions and facilitate communication between adjacent cells
epithelial cell connections
- connect to one another along their lateral surfaces. to form epithelial sheets that line body cavities
- epithelial sheets form. the inner lining of the digestive system and the outer layer of the skin
- cells have distinct apical and basal surfaces of the cell and have distinct structure and function
- basal surface is anchored to the extracellular structures that provide an underlying structure to the sheet of cells and include the basal lamina or basement membrane
- adhesion complexes called hemidesmosomes to connect cells to the extracellular matrix
- the apical surface of this intestinal epithelial sheet is organized into microvilli that face the interior of the intestine
types junctions in epithelial cells
tight junctions adherens junctions desmosomes hemidesmosomes gap junctions
tight junctions
- also known as zonula occludens
- connect adjacent epithelial cells just below the apical surface, completely sealing off the space between the cells
- this prevents fluid movement across the layer of cells, restricting the diffusion of small molecules and the leakage of digestive enzymes
- linear arrays of proteins called occludin and claudin are closely arranged between neighbouring cells
- band formed between the cells prevents diffusion of membrane portions from apical to basolateral regions of the plasma membrane
- it also completely prevents the diffusion of molecules in the extracellular space between the cells
freeze fracturing for tight junctions
- in freeze fracturing, cells are instantly. frozen in liquid nitrogen and then broken apart
- fracture is irregular, but occurs at points of weakness such as on the lateral surface between neighbouring cells, allows researchers to see the network created by the tight junctions
- lines are the linear array of tight junction proteins that criss cross the lateral surface f the cells
- tight junction is celarly not a single junction, but an accumulation of structures that form a complete band between the cells
gap junctions
-directly link the cytosol of one cell to the cytosol of the adjacent cell
-this integrates the metabolic activities of all cells in a tissue by allowing the exchange of ions and small molecules between cells, including secondary messengers such as cAMP and calcium
each channel allows the free diffusion of up to about 1 kDA in size through the channel
-gap junctions allow the rapid. coordination of cardiac muscle. contraction and uterine muscle contractions
-the hormonal stimulation of. one cell can lead to a response shared by many cells through the diffusion of the secondary messengers directly through the flow of the cytosol from one cell to the next
connexion channel
- found in groups to form the gap junctions
- a gap junction between. neighbouring. cells where the have the additional effect of pinching together the cell membranes and holding the cells together, however, within the extracellular. space, molecules can diffuse around the junctions
plasmodesmata
- structures in plant cells that perform a similar function to gap junctions found in animal cells
- are important to the structure and function of the phloem found in flowering plants
- phloem carries nutrients, including products of photosynthesis such as sucrose, from the leaves to the rest of the plant
- the cells of the phloem called sieve tube elements are connected by modified and enlarged plasmodesmata that form. the sieve tube plate
- while the sieve tube elements are metabolically inactive, specialized cells called companion cells are closely associated with their development and function
- communication through plasmodesmata involves the trafficking of. informational macromolecules such as transcription factors, gene transcripts and small RNAs
- unfortunately, viral pathogens exploit these channels for intercellular spread
companion cells
- provide ATP, proteins and other substances to the sieve tube elements
- are connected the cells of the phloem by plasmodesmata
- channels of the plasmodesmata that must span not only the two cell membranes, but also the cell walls
phloem
-acts as a circulatory system for the plant, carrying sucrose from source cells (photosynthetically active leaf cell) to the rest of the plant
anchoring junctions
- include adherence junctions, desmosomes and hemidesmosomes
- these are distinguished from. other junctions by their association with the cytoskeleton in particular actin filaments
- adheren junctions connect the actin cytoskeleton between neighbouring cells
desmosomes
-link 2 cells together