Authors: Bettina Hämmerling Christine Grund Judit BodaHeggemann Roland Moll Werner W Franke
Publish Date: 2005/12/22
Volume: 324, Issue: 1, Pages: 55-67
Abstract
The significance of a special kind of VEcadherinbased desmoplakin and plakoglobincontaining adhering junction originally identified in certain endothelial cells of the mammalian lymphatic system notably the retothelial cells of the lymph node sinus and a subtype of lining endothelial cells of peripheral lymphatic vessels has been widely confirmed and its importance in the formation of blood and lymph vessels has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro We have recently extended the molecular and structural characterization of the complexus adhaerens and can now report that it represents a rare and special combination of components known from three other major types of cell junction It comprises zonula adhaerens proteins VEcadherin α and βcatenin protein p120ctn and afadin desmosomal plaque components desmoplakin and plakoglobin and tightjunction proteins claudin5 and ZO1 and forms junctions that vary markedly in size and shape The special character and the possible biological roles of the complexus adhaerens and its unique ensemble of molecules in angiogenesis immunology and oncology are discussed The surprising finding of claudin5 and protein ZO1 in substructures of retothelial cellcell bridges ie structures that do not separate different tissues or cell layer compartments suggests that such tightjunction molecules are involved in functions other than the “fence” and “barrier” roles of zonulae occludentes
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