The Plasma Membrane and Membrane Potential - Cell to Cell Adhesions - Some cells are directly linked by specialized cell junctions

4 important questions on The Plasma Membrane and Membrane Potential - Cell to Cell Adhesions - Some cells are directly linked by specialized cell junctions

In tissues where the cells lie close to one another, these tissues are linked together by 1 of what possible 3 types of specialised cell junctions?

Desmosomes
tight junctions
gap junctions

How do desmosomes function to be described as adhering junctions?

act like “spot rivets” that bring together non touching cells. they have plaques on the inside of each of the two nearby cells and a strong filament containing cadherins (a type of CAM) that extend across the space between the two cells and attach to the plaque on both sides. These intercellular filaments bind adjacent plasma membranes together so that they resist being pulled apart. Thus desmosomes are adhering junctions

Why are tight junctions are termed "impearmable junctions"? State what they are, their purpose and they are important


a tight connection between adjacent cells, that forms a seal that blocks substances from slipping through the space between them.Purpose is to form highly selective barriers between two regions of highly different chemical composition, forcing substances to move through the cell itself and not through gaps inbetween
important becuase harmful substances could enter places they shouldn't without tight junctions
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What are gap junctions?, movement of what size molecules do they allow?

Communicating junctions made up of connexons, which form tunnels that permit movement of charge carrying ions and small molecules (glucose, amino acids) between two adjacent cells.

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