Desmosomes

Definition

Desmosomes are specialized cell-cell junctions that mechanically connect adjacent epithelial cells, forming a strong adhesive bond. They are crucial for maintaining the structural integrity and barrier function of epithelial tissues, such as the skin and cardiac muscle.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Desmosomes are composed of transmembrane cadherin proteins that link the cytoskeletons of adjacent cells, creating a strong mechanical bond.
2. The desmosomal plaque, a dense protein complex, anchors the cadherin proteins to the intermediate filaments of the cytoskeleton, further strengthening the cell-cell adhesion.
3. Desmosomes are particularly abundant in tissues that experience high mechanical stress, such as the skin, heart, and gastrointestinal tract, where they help maintain tissue integrity.
4. Disruption of desmosomal function can lead to diseases like pemphigus, a severe autoimmune skin condition characterized by blistering and loss of cell-cell adhesion.
5. In cardiac muscle, desmosomes work in conjunction with gap junctions to facilitate the rapid and coordinated transmission of electrical signals, enabling the synchronous contraction of the heart.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of desmosomes in the context of epithelial tissue and how they contribute to the structural integrity of the tissue.
  • Desmosomes are crucial cell-cell junctions in epithelial tissues that mechanically connect adjacent epithelial cells. By forming strong adhesive bonds between cells, desmosomes help maintain the structural integrity and barrier function of the epithelium. This is particularly important in tissues that experience high mechanical stress, such as the skin, where desmosomes work to prevent cell-cell separation and tissue disruption. The desmosomal plaque anchors the cadherin proteins to the intermediate filaments of the cytoskeleton, further strengthening the cell-cell adhesion and overall tissue cohesion.
• Describe the relationship between desmosomes and the layers of the skin, and how their function contributes to the skin's barrier properties.
  • Desmosomes are abundantly present in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, where they play a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity and barrier function of the skin. In the stratum basale, the deepest layer of the epidermis, desmosomes connect the basal keratinocytes to one another, providing a strong adhesive foundation. As the keratinocytes differentiate and migrate upward through the stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum, the desmosomes help preserve the cohesion of the cells, preventing their separation and ensuring the skin's ability to act as an effective barrier against environmental insults and water loss.
• Analyze the role of desmosomes in cardiac muscle tissue and their contribution to the electrical activity and coordinated contraction of the heart.
  • In cardiac muscle tissue, desmosomes work in conjunction with gap junctions to facilitate the rapid and coordinated transmission of electrical signals, enabling the synchronous contraction of the heart. Desmosomes provide mechanical strength and adhesion between adjacent cardiomyocytes, ensuring that the cells remain tightly connected as the heart contracts. This mechanical coupling, along with the electrical coupling provided by gap junctions, allows for the efficient propagation of action potentials throughout the cardiac muscle, ensuring that the heart beats in a coordinated and rhythmic manner. Disruption of desmosomal function can lead to cardiac disorders, highlighting the critical importance of these cell-cell junctions in the proper functioning of the heart.

Related terms

Tight Junctions:

Tight junctions are another type of cell-cell junction that form a continuous seal between adjacent epithelial cells, creating a selectively permeable barrier that controls the movement of molecules across the epithelium.

Adherens Junctions:

Adherens junctions are cell-cell adhesion complexes that connect the actin cytoskeleton of neighboring cells, providing mechanical strength and regulating cell-cell signaling.

Gap Junctions:

Gap junctions are specialized intercellular channels that allow the direct exchange of small molecules, ions, and electrical signals between adjacent cells, enabling coordinated function.