| Cell junction | |
|---|---|
 Tight junction between two cells | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | junctiones cellulares |
| TH | H1.00.01.0.00012 |
| FMA | 67394 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Cell junctions[1] or junctional complexes are a class of cellular structures consisting of multiprotein complexes that provide contact or adhesion between neighboring cells or between a cell and the extracellular matrix in animals.[2] They also maintain the paracellular barrier of epithelia and control paracellular transport. Cell junctions are especially abundant in epithelial tissues. Combined with cell adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix, cell junctions help hold animal cells together.
Cell junctions are also especially important in enabling communication between neighboring cells via specialized protein complexes called communicating (gap) junctions. Cell junctions are also important in reducing stress placed upon cells.
In plants, similar communication channels are known as plasmodesmata, and in fungi they are called septal pores.[3]
- ^ Mitchell, Richard Sheppard; Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson (2007). "Ch. 13: Box on morphology of squamous cell carcinoma". Robbins Basic Pathology (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. ISBN 978-1-4160-2973-1.
- ^ Fu, Rong; Jiang, Xiaowan; Li, Gang; Zhu, Yi; Zhang, Huimin (December 2022). "Junctional complexes in epithelial cells: sentinels for extracellular insults and intracellular homeostasis". The FEBS Journal. 289 (23): 7314–7333. doi:10.1111/febs.16174. PMID 34453866. S2CID 237347708. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ Bloemendal, S; Kück, U (January 2013). "Cell-to-cell communication in plants, animals, and fungi: a comparative review". Die Naturwissenschaften. 100 (1): 3–19. Bibcode:2013NW....100....3B. doi:10.1007/s00114-012-0988-z. PMID 23128987. S2CID 11991859.