Anatomy

Adherens Junctions

Anchoring points where the CYTOSKELETON of neighboring cells are connected to each other. They are composed of specialized areas of the plasma membrane where bundles of the ACTIN CYTOSKELETON attach to the membrane through the transmembrane linkers, CADHERINS, which in turn attach through their extracellular domains to cadherins in the neighboring cell membranes. In sheets of cells, they form into adhesion belts (zonula adherens) that go all the way around a cell.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Anchoring points where the CYTOSKELETON of neighboring cells are connected to each other. They are composed of specialized areas of the plasma membrane where bundles of the ACTIN CYTOSKELETON attach to the membrane through the transmembrane linkers, CADHERINS, which in turn attach through their extracellular domains to cadherins in the neighboring cell membranes. In sheets of cells, they form into adhesion belts (zonula adherens) that go all the way around a cell.

MeSH Record

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Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Adherens Junction
  • Junction, Adherens
  • Junctions, Adherens
  • Zonula Adherens
  • Adherens, Zonula

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

14 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, drug effects, enzymology, genetics, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, radiation effects, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

2001

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Intercellular Junctions (1984-2000)

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AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Adherens Junctions. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D022005. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D022005
  2. Adherens Junctions. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adherens_junction
  3. Adherens Junctions. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45173