Cell junction
Encyclopedia : C : CE : CEL : Cell junction
A cell junction is a structure within a tissue of a multicellular organism. Cell junctions are especially abundant in epithelial tissues. They consist of protein complexes and provide contact between neighbouring cells, between a cell and the extracellular matrix, or they built up the paracellular barrier of epithelia and control the paracellular transport.
In vertebrates, there are three major types of cell junctions:
Invertebrates have several other types of specific junctions, for example Septate junctions or the CeAJ (C. elegans apical junction).
External links
| Cell junctions - [http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit] |
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| Adherens junction > Desmosome | Hemidesmosome | Gap junction | Tight junction |
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