What do gap junctions tight junctions and desmosomes have in common?

What do gap junctions, tight junctions, and desmosomes have in common with each other, but not with plasmodesmata? – They create waterproof attachments. – They connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. – They prevent movement of fluids and molecules in between cells.

What are desmosomes and gap junctions and why are they important to heart function?

Cardiac muscle fibers have a single nucleus, are branched, and joined to one another by intercalated discs that contain gap junctions for depolarization between cells and desmosomes to hold the fibers together when the heart contracts.

What are Desmosome junctions?

Desmosomes are adhesive intercellular junctions that mechanically integrate adjacent cells by coupling adhesive interactions mediated by desmosomal cadherins to the intermediate filament cytoskeletal network.

What is the function of gap junction?

The main function of gap junctions is to connect cells together so that molecules may pass from one cell to the other. This allows for cell-to-cell communication, and makes it so that molecules can directly enter neighboring cells without having to go through the extracellular fluid surrounding the cells.

Why are gap junctions important?

Gap junctions are especially important during embryonic development, a time when neighboring cells must communicate with each other in order for them to develop in the right place at the right time. If gap junctions are blocked, embryos cannot develop normally.

Where are gap junctions found?

Gap junctions are found in many places throughout the body. This includes epithelia, which are the coverings of body surfaces, as well as nerves, cardiac (heart) muscle, and smooth muscle (such as that of the intestines). Their primary role is to coordinate the activity of adjacent cells.

What is the structure of a tight junction?

Structure. Tight junctions are composed of a branching network of sealing strands, each strand acting independently from the others. Therefore, the efficiency of the junction in preventing ion passage increases exponentially with the number of strands. Each strand is formed from a row of transmembrane proteins embedded in both plasma membranes,…