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Review
. 2008 Mar;1778(3):562-71.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2007.12.015. Epub 2008 Jan 14.

Molecular components of the adherens junction

Carien M Niessen  1 , Cara J Gottardi
Affiliations
Review

Molecular components of the adherens junction

Carien M Niessen et al. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 Mar.

Abstract

Adherens junctions serve to couple individual cells into various arrangements required for tissue structure and function. The central structural components of adherens junctions are transmembrane adhesion receptors, and their associated actin-binding/regulatory proteins. The molecular machineries that organize these adhesion receptor complexes into higher order junction structures, and the functional consequences of this junctional organization will be discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Ultrastructural features of adherens junctions
A. Transmission electron micrograph of the zonula adherens (ZA) described by Farquhar and Palade (1963) as part of a tripartite junction complex, where the ZA (black arrow) is located between the zonula occludens (ZO) and the desmosome (DM) just beneath the apical, microvillar (MV) domain. B. Quick-freeze, deep-etch image of the adherens junction between intestinal epithelial cells. Note the presence of rod-like bridging structures extending between adjacent cells at the attachment zone (white arrow). Micrographs were kindly provided by Drs. M. G. Farquhar (A) and N. Hirokawa (B) and reprinted with permission from J. Cell Biol. See text for references. C–F. Electron micrographs of ultrathin sections from mesenchymal cell contacts (Wuchter et al., 2007). C. “Tentacle-like” process reveals contact without electron dense plaque structure (bracket). D&E. Different contact region at low (D) and higher magnification (E) reveals closely spaced adherens junctions characterized by dense, cytoplasmic plaques (arrows). F. Immunogold labeling shows β-catenin enrichment at these junctions (arrowheads). Micrographs were kindly provided by Dr. Werner Franke and colleagues, and reproduced with permission from Cell Tissue Research, Springer-Verlag.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Core structural components for adhesion and junction formation
Cadherin and nectin homophilic adhesion receptors directly or indirectly associate with actin filaments via α-catenin and afadin, respectively. Extracellular engagement produces signals that affect actin dynamics. See text for details.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Junctional versus non-junctional organization of adhesive complexes and implications for function
See text for details.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Hirokawa N, Heuser JE. Quick-freeze, deep-etch visualization of the cytoskeleton beneath surface differentiations of intestinal epithelial cells. J Cell Biol. 1981;91:399–409. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Drenckhahn D, Franz H. Identification of actin-, alpha-actinin-, and vinculin-containing plaques at the lateral membrane of epithelial cells. J Cell Biol. 1986;102:1843–1852. - PMC - PubMed

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